Mrs. Millicent Clarke is Barbados’ newest centenarian.
In a grand celebration at her home last Saturday at Mount Friendship Road, St. Michael, Mrs. Clarke was surrounded by close relatives and friends, as well as specially invited guests, who included the President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.
Mrs. Clarke, who is the last of five siblings, was described by her daughter and caregiver, Cheryl Carter, as resilient, dedicated, hardworking and strict, but fantastic. She spoke lovingly of her mother as being someone who sacrificed for her eight children and ensured that they all had some kind of education even though she had none.
“Mom has been a dedicated mother. She’s had her challenges…and like most people of her era, she had to work really, really hard and she made every sacrifice. She went without so that we could have,” Ms. Carter said.
She continued: “I’m really thankful that she’s here and that she has been truly a great mum. Most people obviously say their moms are the best moms because that’s the only mom they have, but you can see she has been a really good mom and a fabulous woman. She’s 100 and fabulous.”
One of the centenarian’s sons, Barry Carter, described her as one of the best economists out there. “When you first start to work, you have that lecture…. When you get your paycheck, she’d say ‘come on, let’s talk’. And she would say ‘you have to determine what is spending? What is saving? What to keep as a float…. You’re going to have to do that’,” he said.
Mr. Carter ended his tribute to his mother expressing his appreciation for her. “I appreciate you, we love you and you got us this far…. You got to this far even though you’re struggling a little bit, but God continues to bless you.”
When her children were old enough, Mrs. Clarke, widow of Amos Clarke, started a career in bedside nursing. She became involved with the National Assistance Board and discovered her love for craft and crotchet. Some of these pieces are on display at her home.
A devout member of the St. Barnabas Church, Mrs. Clarke was a member of the choir, the Church Army prayer group and a Sunday School teacher. Former rector of the St. Barnabas Church, Reverend Mark Harewood, recalled his first encounter with her.
“Millicent Clarke has been a tour de force of the St. Barnabas Church. I remember the first time I arrived at St. Barnabas. She prayed at a Church Army night and she said ‘I don’t know why this new priest don’t like me because he won’t look at me’… and it’s from then that my heart so meshed with hers,” he shared.
Rev. Harewood described her as family, and as a very strong, very special, capable, and wonderful person. He said he was happy he was able to celebrate her while she is still alive.
Dame Sandra presented Mrs. Clarke with a bouquet of flowers and a personalised post card, which the centenarian ably read without assistance.
When the group shared the toast and Dame Sandra inquired about her thoughts on the wine, the centenarian quipped “it too sweet”, to which there was much laughter. Mrs. Clarke has eight children, 14 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.