Choppins woman hits 100

There was no greater gift for Marion Williams on her 100th birthday than to celebrate her milestone with her family and friends.

Williams, who is also known as Eugena Gilbert, was born on October 5, 1918.

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ newest centenarian was joined by family and friends on Sunday, October 7 at the Choppins Community Centre for a party.

“I’m feeling good!” Williams told SEARCHLIGHT last Thursday, as she lounged on the patio of her Choppins home. “Growing up, [it was] hard. Pure hard work but it was good.”

Williams is a mother of four: Marie Phillips, Jimmy Richards, Gwyneth Providence and Margaret Grant.

Her daughter, Margaret Grant said that her mother suffered a stroke and has not been as active as she once was. But she has no other illnesses.

And she attests to her mother being a hard worker.

“She would go with a hoe on her shoulder and ask if anybody want anybody to work and if they want, she will go and work. She worked a lot of places like on estates. Sometimes, she carry we in the field and all. Put we in a tray while she picking cotton,” Grant said.

She described her mother as “a praying lady” who would often give good advice to anyone who wanted it.

Grant revealed that the entire family was pleased that Williams was able to celebrate such a milestone. She added that family came from as far as the United Kingdom to celebrate.

“We were looking forward to this. when she make it last year to 99, we say boy, if God spare her life and she make it to 100, we would have something for her,” she said.

“She was feeling so good that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren…everybody was around her. Family and friends were around her. she was feeling good.”

Williams or “Tanty Gena” has 24 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

The Governor General visited Williams on her birthday to present her with a bouquet and a letter from the Queen.