One of cricket’s biggest fans, Esternese Farnum, celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday, May 4, 2024, with her family and friends at her home in Church Gap, Hillaby, St. Thomas.
President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason visited Mrs. Farnum to help celebrate the occasion.
In paying tribute to his mother, Winston Farnum remarked that she “was the best mother that ever was”. He continued: “She was a strict disciplinarian, but she always believed that the purpose of life is…to…leave this world a better place than we found it, so she instilled those values in all of us.”
Mr. Farnum further noted that he and his siblings were brought up in church as his mother would always say to them that they “should know right from wrong”.
The centenarian’s stepdaughter, Maxine Walker, commented that Mrs. Farnum is a “devout Christian, playing an integral role in the church”. She said: “She led worship, intercessory prayer, and preached sermons…. She lived by Christian principles…. She enforced the Bible.”
Ms. Walker added: “No resources were spared to provide a good education. Ma encouraged us to study hard… so that we would be able to get a good occupation. We did not disappoint her.”
After reciting Psalms 128 from memory, the centenarian remarked: “The Lord hath brought me so far. I see my grandchildren, lovely grandchildren…. I talk to people as much as I know about God because you have to learn about God early…. You had to bring up the children in the way that they should go that they know about God.”
Raised in Hillaby St. Thomas, the centenarian attended Hillaby Mixed School (now Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School). She got into farming and marketed produce in the Bridgetown area to generate an income. “I was a hawker. I use[d] to sell and do things in the land,” she said.
Mrs. Farnum had 12 children (four of whom passed away at an early age) from her marriage to Clairmont Farnum (now deceased). She also has one stepdaughter, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Initially raised as an Anglican, Mrs. Farnum attended the St. Thomas Parish Church, St. Thomas. Over the years, she opted to attend other Christian denominations and became an Interim Pastor until her retirement.
Although she has a caregiver, Olene Griffith, the centenarian continues to wash her clothes and prepare her meals, although family members will bring meals for her.
She likes eating coucou and ground provisions, listening to the radio and enjoys cricket. She has a very keen interest in the ICC T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Mrs. Farnum, who has clear memories of the 1937 uprising in Barbados and witnessed the raising of the Barbados flag at the Garrison Savannah in 1966, recommended to the “young generation” that rather than eating out “they could get things to cook; it would help them”.
After hearing the stories shared by Mrs. Farnum as well as the hymns and anthems recited from memory (some of which were learned at age 11), Her Excellency remarked that the centenarian had “done extremely well for herself”, adding “I would love to spend the day with you”, to which the centenarian humorously replied, “I ain’t doubt you”.
Dame Sandra presented Mrs. Farnum with a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and a personalised card.
In her closing remarks, Dame Sandra noted: “This has been the most delightful morning for me…. Thank you for having me, and you enjoy the rest of your day.”
To which Mrs. Farnum replied: “I appreciate you… …I [am] glad to see you…. Thank you very much for coming…God bless you…and the Lord carry you safe…. I love you.”
Troy Barker