Ismay Leotta Pinder joins distinguished ranks of Bajan centenarians

Ismay Leotta Pinder of 14 Valley Close, St George, has joined the distinguished ranks of centenarians, celebrating her 100th birthday on Sunday.

Surrounded by loved ones, Pinder received a visit from the President of Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason, and later had a quiet lunch in the afternoon with family.

Born in Ellerton, Pinder’s journey unfolded during the 1950s when she and her late husband, Montegue, set sail for England during the Windrush era. There, she dedicated herself to the well-being of others as a nurse.

Despite facing the challenges of dementia at 100, Pinder remains active, rising as early as 6 a.m. to participate in her daily ritual of jumping jacks and leg raises.

Throughout her life, Pinder was not only a caregiver but a matriarch who instilled values of love and resilience in her four children — Angela Fenty, Margo Senior, 73, and twins, Neil and Charles Pinder, 65; and her six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Charles Pinder, one of Ismay’s sons, shared that her unwavering faith was a cornerstone of her life, finding expression in regular church attendance.

(RG)