Parris celebrates 107th birthday in good health and spirits

Hermione Eileen Parris, the oldest resident of Moore’s Land, St John, celebrated her 107th birthday on Friday.

Parris, affectionately called Ermie by friends and family, told Barbados TODAY that she was elated to have made it another year, adding that if it was God’s plan for her to become a supercentenarian, it will be done.

“Through many dangers, toils and snares, I am here. It is his (God’s) grace that brought me thus far. My longevity comes from the Almighty; I have no control over my life,” she said.

Despite her age, the birthday girl has all her faculties, loves to engage in conversation and has a big sense of humour. She does not have any non-communicable diseases or any other illnesses.

She originated from Pool Land, also in St John, but recently moved in with her daughter Wendy Reid who takes care of her.

Her husband of 68 years, Richard Parris, died in 2007 at the age of 92. The couple had seven children, three of whom are deceased.

Asked how many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren she had, Parris said there were too many to recall.

Reid explained that for her mother’s 100th birthday, the tally of grandchildren was more than 60.

“There are just too many to count and I don’t want to give a number and leave out anybody,” she said.

Parris’ diet consists of a lot of ground provisions.

“Macaroni pie and them kinds of things I don’t eat. I used to like cou cou but I stopped eating that in 1968,” she said, adding that for Christmas she “had to get a piece of pork”.

Although she recently started experiencing difficulty seeing, Parris said she enjoyed reading and watching television.

“I don’t have to cook or anything so I does watch anything coming over the TV. I like to watch CNN news and the gospel channel, especially on Sundays because I don’t go church like one time,” she added.

In her younger years, Parris was a needleworker, worked in the canefields, and was a domestic worker at Pool Plantation.

Asked what advice she would give to younger generations, she said: “The Bible tells you to train up a child in the way he should go, but nowadays you can’t hit the children so whatever befalls them, they would have to take.”

Parris had family over in the evening to celebrate her birthday and also received several overseas calls from relatives and friends.

During the interview with Barbados TODAY, many neighbours and well-wishers visited her and congratulated her on reaching this milestone.
(SZB)