Barbados’ newest centenarian, Cecilia Olive Grace Oxley, celebrated her birthday today, Friday, December 29, surrounded by her family at Newton Terrace, Christ Church, and was paid a visit by the Acting President, His Excellency The Very Reverend Jeffrey Gibson.
His Excellency presented her with a birthday card with greetings from the President, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, which Mrs. Oxley read, followed by applause from all those present.
Her son, Milton Oxley, said he had all fond memories of his St. Lucian born mother, who was a registered nurse and specialised in midwifery. Mr. Oxley shared that his mother worked as a nurse in St. Lucia, the United States of America, and Barbados, where she was married in 1964.
He also shared that the mother of three – two boys and one girl – and grandmother of 13, whose hearing is now impaired, on a normal day can take them back to the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, and is as “sharp as a tack”. Mrs. Oxley also suffers from arthritis, and as her son notes “some days are good and some are not so good” for his mother.
The centenarian’s favourite meal is green bananas and salt fish. However, according to Mr. Oxley, she also likes the Bajan breadfruit and believes that “there is no better breadfruit in the world than a Bajan breadfruit”. Mrs. Oxley is also known to eat the “Bajan pear” and macaroni pie.