BY BGIS | AUG 26, 2022
Maria and Vance Dixon celebrate with Barbados’ latest centenarian Vinnie Elmena Maynard of Walkers, St. Andrew. (T.Barker/BGIS)
One of Barbados’ latest centenarians, Ms. Vinne Elmena Maynard, “El” as she is affectionately known, celebrated her birthday on Thursday, August 26, surrounded by those she raised as children, close friends and members of her community in Walkers, St. Andrew.
Ms. Maynard also received a special visit, via Zoom, from the President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.
In addition, The Reverend Allan Jones, of the St. Andrew Parish Church, was present and led the gathering in prayer.
The centenarian, who never married and had no children of her own, received praises for having raised and supported several within the community, many of whom joined in on the celebrations.
When queried by Her Excellency why she never married, Ms. Maynard responded: “That was not for me. I told my mother when she was alive, no marriage for me, nor no children.” She quickly added, “but I raised, I raised all of the time”.
It was noted that the centenarian raised two children whose mother passed away and she also went on to help raise the lady’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Renaldo Dixon, one of the grandchildren, shared that Ms. Maynard raised him from the time he was three years old. He proudly stated: “I am 37 [years old]; if she didn’t raise me, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”
In speaking with Mr. Dixon, Her Excellency advised: “Do your Grandma the favour of raising your children in the same fashion that she raised you because it is evident to me that she did an extremely good job with your brother and sister.”
In addition to raising children, the centenarian worked cutting and loading canes, raising cows, driving a truck while working at “the brick factory” (Claytone Products Inc.) and was a shop attendant, among other things.
Asked by Her Excellency to share what led her to drive a truck, the centenarian replied that her father owned a car and a truck and she would drive them both. “You only had to get a licence; you could drive anything; that was in my day…. I used to take people around for potatoes,” she explained.
Ms. Maynard further shared that she soon stopped driving the truck in order to assist her father in the shop he was running, at the time. Stating that back then her role was to “see about the shop”, she beamed, “It was me and me alone” (helping out her father).
Educated at Belleplaine Primary, the centenarian “passed through to seventh standard”. She, however, recalled there was a recommendation for her to become a teacher but when offered, she told her father, “no… if I suck salt, I don’t want to be no teacher”.
As an active member of the St. Andrew Parish Church from age four until 2020, the centenarian considers this to have been one of the most fulfilling experiences of her life. She said she sang in the choir and was a member of The Mothers Union for a long while.
One of the centenarian’s favourite foods is pork, roasted and sliced, and she loves to eat ground provisions.
Attributing her longevity to following God’s guidance, Ms. Maynard stressed: “[I] do what I have to do and be merry…. The Lord gave me the health and strength and I follow after Him and do what He told me to do.”
In closing, Her Excellency remarked: “My special thanks to you Grandma for what you have done to help Barbados…. You saw the necessity to help those around you who needed the help…. We are grateful to you Grandma…. All the very best for the rest of the day and for the rest of your life.” On behalf of Her Excellency, the Aide-de-camp, Sub-Lieutenant Jamal Wiggins, presented Ms. Maynard with a greeting card, a fruit basket and a bottle of wine. This was followed by the rendition of the Happy Birthday song, where everyone toasted the centenarian – an inspiration and mother to many in her community.
