This island’s latest centenarian, Hermione Eileen Parris, reading her birthday cards on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and the Government of Barbados to Governor General, Sir Elliott Belgrave.
BARBADOS’ LATEST CENTENARIAN CELEBRATED! Centenarian Hermione Parris having a toast with Governor General, His Excellency Sir Elliott Belgrave, as her great grand-daughter Tara Parris (left) looks on. The Pool Land, St. John resident, who displayed youthful energy, told the Head of State that she still enjoys ground provisions such as yam, potatoes and eddoes.
The Parris family was happy to share the occasion with their matriarch.
By:
Peta Rowe-Forde
AS has been a common thread for the year 2016, Barbados yesterday had yet another centenarian in the likes of Hermione Eileen Parris.
However, what makes the resident of Pool Land, St. John even more special is her youthfulness despite her age.
In anticipation of the visit of the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Elliott Belgrave, a strong and vibrant Hermione could be seen standing, having to be nudged to sit by her descendants.
Added to that, her vision is impeccable as her grandchildren reported that she still reads the paper every day. As if this were not enough, when presented with birthday cards on the behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and the Government of Barbados, Mrs. Parris read them fluently after commenting on the Queen’s recent illness.
Hermione Parris is the wife of the late Stephen Parris, matriarch of seven children, two of whom are deceased, 19 grandchildren and 66 great grandchildren. While the number of great great grandchildren is uncertain, “Ma”, as Hermione is affectionately called, is described as the person who keeps the family at peace through her loving and caring ways.
Church has always been a part of Hermione’s life and she reported that from 1996 until this year, she has been going to St. Vincent as a missionary – and will go again next year if it is God’s will. She goes to church every Sunday morning and evening at the Tichbourne Apostolic Faith and her favourite Bible verse taken from Psalms 107:1 is “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good: his love endures forever.”
As testimony of God’s goodness, Hermione noted that she is quite pleased to reach this milestone because she did not think she would due to an illness she endured some time previously. “God had a hand in my life and that is why I am here today,” she stated as she recounted the event.
When asked by the Governor General about her diet, “Ma” explained that she mostly likes ground provisions such as yam, potatoes and eddoes. And when asked how much longer she would
like to live, a quick, jovial and witty Hermione responded with, “I look at it one day at a time.”
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