Quiet pillar celebrates 100

A loving pillar of strength – this is how Barbados’ newest centenarian, Clarine Edwards, was described on Wednesday as she celebrated her milestone in the warm presence of close family and friends in her quiet Dunscombe, St. Thomas community.

Edwards, the quiet coucou lover, was praised by one of her daughters Lavadnie Harris, as a loving and caring parent, who despite working hard on plantations and at other jobs in her early years to provide for her children, remained steadfast in her faith in God, and her love of people.

“She is a person who is very loving and in all of her endeavours she was very nice. She used to love cooking, especially coucou. She loves coucou. She always refers to God and in her ways she acknowledges Him.

“She is very quiet and worked very hard doing labour work… all kinds of work, but otherwise I can say mum is very quiet, she loves people. I am so elated,” Harris said.

MP for the parish, Cynthia Forde, also paid a special visit to Edwards during the morning. She stressed the importance of celebrating the lives of Barbadians who would have been key players in building the country.

“It is a privilege to be here today to celebrate with her on her 100th birthday knowing that she is a woman who toiled day and night to help to build this wonderful safe country that we are in, and I pray that God will continue to strengthen her.

“It was no easy task working on the plantation for so many years and raising her children, and not relying on the state or anyone because she had that inclination to want to work, and to achieve through that hardwork and dedication that we know has been a pillar of us in our society… She has always been a pillar of strength.”

Clarine Edwards has three children, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.