Please, go to church. That was the plea from Governor General Dame Sandra Mason to this island’s young people. She said it was evident that a relationship with God was lacking among Barbadians, especially the youth.
Dame Sandra spoke to the issue yesterday while visiting the island’s newest centenarian, Olga Boyce, at the Geriatric Hospital, Beckles Road, St Michael.
“I would want all of us to encourage our young people to get to [know] God because it appears as if they don’t know anything about God.”
During the event, Boyce sang her favourite chorus, Tell It To Jesus, prayed and toasted with the Governor General, who was impressed with her sense of humour. Boyce also spoke highly of her schoolteachers and listed all their names.
Dame Sandra brought the birthday girl a bottle of wine, two birthday cards – one from her and the other from Queen Elizabeth – and a bouquet of flowers.
Boyce, a former domestic worker who boasted about “pressing in” the best four-seam on male trousers, said that it felt great to be 100 years old, adding that she loved going to church for morning and evening services at St Barnabas’ Anglican.
Nieces Goldeen Herbert and Hyacinth Howard said they were proud that their aunty Olga had reached this milestone, outliving her six siblings.
Boyce had two children and has nine grandchildren. She lived in Parris Hill, St Joseph, and attended St Joseph Girls’ School. She moved to Mount Friendship, St Michael, 60 years ago and has been in the Geriatric Hospital since September. (SB)
