She is 104 waiting to go to meet her Jesus

Times have changed. Long ago dey was always dat ole person in yuh life who was either yuh grand-mother (Granny) or her perfect substitute, yuh nanny professionally called baby sitter or care-giver. She was the person who spends the most time with a baby or child. Lucky me, my narny was Drucilla Primus fondly known as Sister Primus.

She celebrated her Big Day, 104th birthday last Sunday. Ah can’t forget it, right after St Valentine’s Day. Interestingly whenever ah mek ah visit and her care-giver announce my arrival, she would smile and say: “ I used to mind him as ah lickle baby, feed him, wash his diaper, bathe him, powder his skin and put him to sleep.”

She has been ah one-dah-full Christian lady. Her story is powerful. Her mom died when she wasn’t not even in her teens. Yet she had to leave school to run things at home. In dem days school and Eddy-care-shun was always first to go out de window. So she never had an Eddy-care-shun, but knew almost every song in de Salvation Army song book. She used to walk from Richland Park to town selling ground provision. Long story short, she was ah Domestic, lived in Paul’s Lot and opened her doors to lots of children, unofficial adoption is de term. Two sons of her own, one is deceased. Kudos to the other son Stanley, ah former Traffic Officer in SVG, now retired and baby-sitting his dear mother. Six grand-children including Desrie Primus PhD, and Christie ah Salvation Army Divisional Commander in Jah-mek-her. Sister Primus’ house was an unofficial mini Salvation Army Home for stranded kids. She is possibly one ah de oldest living Salvationist around, and might be world-wide!

Her story has been in de news papers since she became ah Centenarian four years ago. At 104 years of age, she will tell you she is waiting to go meet her Jesus. However she had ah one-dah-full surprise Birthday visit from Minister Velox and her Praise’n’ Worship staff. Indeed it was ah session of singing and prayers. Dat mission by Minister Velox was like ah spiritual refresher to dat section of de challenged Paul’s Lot Block. Ah was saddened when ah overheard de unfortunate Awe-position leader, describing Minister Velox’s Ministry as ah Mickey Mouse Ministry. If dat is so den ah would not want to encounter Mickey’s Primary Opposite, de
Mortimer Ministry. So here’s wishing Sister Primus and he care-giver Peace, Love and de Best of Health while she waits for her Jesus. And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy

• Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.