Centenarian celebrates milestone

Few people get to celebrate their birthday and Christmas on the same day – and even less reach 100.

But today Marguerita Payne celebrated all three.

With proud family, friends and St George North Member of Parliament Toni Moore, the island’s newest centenarian enjoyed her big day.

“I feel very happy and once you live in the Lord you would be always happy and nice. Thank the Lord that I live to see it, the spritely Payne told reporters.

According to her first granddaughter Lynette Callendar, Payne who outlived her two sons, is the grandmother of 16 and is happy and healthy.

“She is a devout Anglican and on a daily basis, she drinks a coke every day and eats pork and she eats ground food. She is still very strong and her doctor, Dr Karen Bynoe, is very proud of her, Gran has not had a cold in over 30 years.”

“She is in very good health and in good spirits. She was visited today by the priest at St George Parish Church and he himself could not believe that she is 100, “Callendar said.

MP Moore also admitted that she had difficulty identifying the centenarian, who was elegantly decked out in blue for the special occasion.

“It is good to be here my first Christmas in St George North and celebrating on such an occasion of a 100^th birthday. When I got in here I noted that it was the first occasion that I am seeing the lady of the day and I was looking around the room wondering where is the centenarian because she looks so young,” said Moore who was also celebrating her mother’s birthday.

Payne, a former janitor who worked at schools, including St George Primary, was described as a tireless worker and a strict but loving and kind grandmother.

In her younger days, one of her favourite past times was visiting the Garrison Savannah with friends to bet and watch the horses run.

These days, Payne quietly enjoys her days, trusting in God and spending time with her family.

She advises young Barbadians, “Try to live as close to God as you can and behave yourself.”