One of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Enid Violet Niles, celebrated her birthday on Thursday, February 22, with family, friends, and members of the New Testament Church of God, Rock Hall, St. Andrew, at the St. Michael District Hospital, Beckles Road, St. Michael.
President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, paid a visit via Zoom.
One of Mrs. Niles’ cousins, David Briggs, in his tribute, remarked: “She was always a feisty lady, a hard worker, an industrious woman…. As a labourer, she also kept stock. She loved cows…. She loved her animals…. When it came to even selling or killing the cows that money went to the upkeep of the house.”
Mr. Briggs added: “She had land she worked; she used the fork and worked. She planted canes; she planted bananas, and she was a hawker…. That kept her busy, that kept her independent. She…always was independent, hardworking, and born to never allow her situations to keep her down.”
Raised in Rock Hall, St. Andrew, Mrs. Niles attended the Indian Ground Primary School (now All Saints Primary School), after which she embraced her love of the land and made a career out it.
She worked as a labourer at Rock Hall Plantation, St. Peter, and at Springhead Plantation, St. James. This was in addition to having her own farm and selling those products in Bridgetown and in Eagle Hall, St. Michael.
The centenarian, now a widow, married Stephen Niles in 1958. She had two daughters, both of whom passed away at an early age. Mrs. Niles raised her niece, Joycelyn Scantlebury (now deceased) and David Briggs.
She loved to cook and did so while in a wheelchair, until she became a resident of the St. Michael District Hospital in her 90s, due to health concerns. She enjoys eating ground provisions, corn meal cou cou with any meat, pigtail, and rice with gravy.
The centenarian sings Pentecostal hymns from memory throughout the day, often leading others in song. She sang ‘Revive us again (Thine be the Glory)’ during the celebration.
One congregant, Angie Bayley, noted that as a young person she would spend many hours with Mrs. Niles, who would always give her some “good advice”. She continued: “And, one thing I would remember and take with me throughout my life, she would always say ‘delay isn’t laziness; your time will come’….”
On behalf of Her Excellency, Mrs. Niles was presented with a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine, and a personalised card, to which she said, “Praise God!”
In her closing remarks, Her Excellency commented: “I want to say thank you to all of you who have had the care and attention of Mrs. Niles over the years, whether it is Rock Hall in St. Andrew or here at the District Hospital…. I never get tired of saying we are eternally grateful to persons like her who have brought us along on their shoulders. I just want you to continue to care for her because you will be justly rewarded, and thanks to everybody for allowing me to be a part of this historic occasion.”
Troy Barker