ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, August 16th, 2011 – As of August 15, Ms. Vivian Hodge is the newest centenarian in the Virgin Islands.
Yesterday at a birthday celebration at The Adina Donovan Home Ms. Hodge celebrated with His Excellency the Governor Boyd McCleary, CMG, CVO, Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE, QC, family, friends, well-wishers and caretakers.
As part of the celebrations the governor presented Ms. Hodge with a personal birthday card from Her Majesty the Queen stating, "I am so pleased to know that you celebrated your 100th birthday on 15 August, 2011. I send my congratulations and best wishes to you for such a special occasion.”
Premier O’Neal presented Ms. Hodge with a $5,000 cheque on behalf of the Government and people of the Virgin Islands, a tradition government established about 10 years ago to honour the Territory’s “golden citizens”.
Deputy Premier Penn presented the centenarian with a complimentary gift basket.
In a letter to the newest centenarian, Premier O’Neal congratulated the golden gem stating, “It is not very often people attain the age of 100 years, so your milestone is indeed a blessing from God.”
“You have lived past the three score and 10 years,” Premier O’Neal wrote, adding, “You have now earned your place in the history of the Virgin Islands as one of our blessed centenarians and it is my pleasure to celebrate with you.”
Ms. Hodge was born on August 15, 1911 in Road Town, Tortola.
In reminiscing on a few of his mother’s exciting journeys through life, her son Mr. Leando Nibbs told the Department of Information and Public Relations that Ms. Hodge has always been a “staunch Methodist” who in the past dedicated a lot of her time to spreading the Gospel from door- to-door.
“My mother served the Methodist Church of Road Town with passion and as a committed member of the Road Town Methodist Women’s League.” in delight, Mr. Nibbs further explained his mother was infamous for raising the most funds for Methodist missionary meetings.
“One of her famous strategies was attending the horse races to solicit funds from horseracing enthusiasts and she would raise a lot of money,” he said.
Mr. Nibbs added his mother is a “veteran Sankey singer” and despite her challenges with speaking, hearing and seeing, she continues to have an excellent appetite.
He ended that he is diligently working on emulating two of her strongest qualities: obedience and discipline.
“My mother believes in paying attention to doctor’s orders and she is a strong believer of living with a Christ-like attitude and behaviour.
The other centenarians are Mrs. Enel Cline of Sage Mountain, Tortola living in St Thomas, United States Virgin Islands (USVI) born March 10, 1908; Mrs. Roberlteen Smith of East End, Tortola born August 11, 1908; Ms. Ada Rubina Varlack of Anegada living in Aruba born March 7, 1910 and Mr. William Industrious of Cane Garden Bay, Tortola born May 3, 1910.
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