100 years of life

“God is good” was the refrain Olga Euleen Brathwaite repeated frequently as her family, friends, and President Dame Sandra Mason joined in celebrating her 100th birthday.

During celebrations at her Boarded Hall, Christ Church home on Monday, the retired plantation worker who claims 116 direct descendants was all smiles as she continually gave God thanks for giving her the strength to reach the milestone.

Daughter Velda Brathwaite told reporters that though she did not always live with her mom during her younger years, as she stayed with her aunt a lot of the time, her mother was always part of her life as a loving but strict parent. Mother and daughter now live together.

“She was very disciplined; you had to get up on mornings, you had to say your prayers, then you had to – mostly my brothers – do the work outside, [and] the girls would do the washing. She would make sure you do your homework, and then if there was anything you wanted to go to, you would ask her, and she would say ‘ok’  – if you behaved nice she would say you can go.

“Otherwise, growing up I would say that she is a loving and caring mum, she tried to give us not what we want, but things that you needed most of all.”

She added: “She instilled morals; you could not bring home anything that belonged to some person and say they give you to keep. If she gave you anything you must share, but you could not take anything from anybody and bring it home; she was very strict on that part.”

The centenarian, a plantation worker for most of her life, has 11 children, 27 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great-grandchildren. 

“She used to work at Hillbury [Plantation], and then after she married to my father – Felix Brathwaite – she moved to Jordans [Plantation], and they worked throughout their life until they retired, “ her daughter said.

St George South MP Dwight Sutherland was also present to greet the island’s newest centenarian, saying that after knowing her for several years through his family who had also attended church with her at Elim Pentecostal Church in Workmans at the time, he had grown to respect her faith in God and healthy lifestyle.

“You have demonstrated by eating the right food, and serving Almighty God that he has preserved you and kept you in the way this morning that you can communicate wholesomely and in a positive way with us. I trust God will continue to bless you,” he told her. (SB)