Special Mother’s Day for Richards family

Mother’s Day this year is very special to the Richards family of Calder, Bonhomme, and Victoria Village.{{more}}

The family is happy to have the matriarch of the family around to celebrate her 102nd birthday.

Ruby Richards of Calder, one of St.Vincent and the Grenadines’ few centenarians, is still going strong at the ripe old age of 102.

She celebrated the incredible milestone, on Saturday, May 2nd, 2009.

“We give God the glory, praise and thanks, because we didn’t expect her to live to see 102,” said her daughter Marian Richards-Joseph.

“I give God praise and thanks because some people around don’t have any mother and she is still going strong,” Richards-Joseph added.

Ruby gave birth to nine children: seven girls and two boys. Joyce is deceased, but Anita, Mercil, Mariel, Herlen, Lorna, Marian, Hamilton, and Benisford are alive.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009, Ruby spoke of the days when she worked as a labourer on the Argyle Estate and on farm lands in Mt.Pleasant and Calder.

She was born in Victoria Village to Laty Nelson-Richards and Jim Richards and grew up in the community of Bonhomme. She had three brothers and five sisters. She is one of five siblings still alive.

Her husband was the late James ‘Baja’ Richards of Calder who passed away in 1988.

Ruby told SEARCHLIGHT that she was raised a Methodist, but later joined the Spiritual Baptist faith and has remained dedicated to that denomination.

Issuing her favourite piece of advice to young Vincentians, Ruby said: “Young people must not be rude. They should behave themselves. They should also remember that manners and behavior begin at home.”

Cheryl Daniel, one of Ruby’s close friends, expressed that it is a great pleasure to see her friend celebrate her 102nd birthday.

“Since I got married and came over here (Calder), she (Ruby) has been giving me advice, but now is my turn to give her some advice. I usually tell her to keep holding on to Jesus. I also let her know that sometimes she will feel lonely, but keep holding on,” said Daniel. (HN)