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One of Barbados' biggest cricket fans, Esternese Farnham, celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday at her home in Church Gap, Hillabee, St. Thomas, with family and friends.
Barbados President Dame Sandra Mason joined in the celebrations by visiting Mrs Farnham with wine (non-alcoholic) and flowers.
Winston Farnham paid tribute to his mother, saying she was “the best mother ever”. He continued: “She was a strict disciplinarian, but she always believed that her purpose in life… was to leave this world a better place than we found it. So she encouraged us all to do that.” I instilled values in them.”
Farnham added that he and his siblings were raised in the church because their mother always said, “You should know right from wrong.”
Maxine Walker, centenarian Mrs Farnham's stepdaughter, said Mrs Farnham was “a devout Christian and plays an important role in the church”. She said: She said, “She led worship, she gave intercessory prayers, she preached… She lived by Christian principles… She enforced the Bible.”
Ms Walker added: “Every resource was spared to provide her with an excellent education. Ms. Ma encouraged us to study hard so that she could get a good career. We I didn't let her down.”
Growing up in Hillaby St Thomas, the 100-year-old attended Hillaby Mixed School (now Hillaby Turners Hall Primary School). She began farming and earned income by selling produce in the Bridgetown area. “I was a peddler.[d] To sell or do something with the land,” she said.
Mrs. Farnham gave birth to twelve children (four of whom died in infancy) during her marriage to Claremont Farnham (now deceased).
Mrs. Farnham was originally brought up as an Anglican and attended St. Thomas Parish Church in St. Thomas. Over her years, she chose to join other Christian denominations and she became an interim pastor until her retirement.
Although she has a caregiver, family members often bring her meals, but the centenarian continues to do laundry and prepare meals.
She likes to coo and eat ground food, listens to the radio and enjoys playing cricket.
She is very interested in the ICC T20 Men's Cricket World Cup, which starts in a few weeks on June 1, but it is unclear whether she will attend the match in person.
Mrs Farnham, who has vivid memories of the 1937 Barbados Rising and witnessed the raising of the Barbadian flag in Garrison Savannah in 1966, told the “younger generation” that “you can get food” rather than eating out. I suggested. it will help them. ”
The 1937 Barbados Riots, which resulted in several deaths, were part of the general labor protests in the British West Indies in the late 1930s.
As a result of the unrest, the British government created the Moyne Commission, chaired by Lord Moyne, to reform housing, agriculture, hospitals, leper institutions, prisons, factories, docks, schools, orphanages, land settlements, and housing. We investigated the necessity. political and constitutional issues.
However, World War II broke out and most of the proposed reforms were put on hold until after the war, after which a gradual process of reform eventually led to universal franchise and, in many cases, national independence. .
After hearing the stories Mrs. Farnham shared and the hymns and hymns she memorized (some of which she memorized at the age of 11), President Mason said that at over 100 years old, Mrs. “I did it,” he said, adding, “I hope you're happy.” To spend the day with you,'' the centenarian humorously replied, “I don't doubt you.''
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