When someone is looking for a woman of substance, there is no other way but to focus your attention on Ismay Veronica Sweeney, a household name, especially to the residents of Newtown and its environs.
This venerable matriarch, known to one and all as "Momma Mazie", was born to Alfred and Eliza Sweeney, a Kittitian and Montserratian combination, who adjusted themselves towards the establishment of a strong family bond, which saw the upbringing of matured adults.
The base of such an alliance came about through a Scottish philanthropist who went to Anguilla in search of land. There is where he met Mazie's grandmother.
With St. Kitts being the first to establish the most efficient, effective and stable colony in the entire British West Indies, and because of our conduciveness to agricultural and housing exploration, our beautiful island was able to attract many visitors including her grandmother and her Scottish partner, who shortly afterwards migrated to St. Kitts.
After reaching our tranquil shores, he continued along his adventurous path, which was in search of land, as well as property, immediately clearing all the small pieces that were in cogs, or filled with grass, so as to make way for the building of homes.
Surely, these tangible investments made by this Scottish investor were able to create that sort of start a family would have welcomed with all pleasure.
The passing of her grandparents made it possible for her mother Eliza, who was born in Newtown, to inherit one of their properties which is situated at the corner of Semper Street, also known as Carty Alley, and George Street, Basseterre.
Her father and mother worked very hard to make ends meet, working as a stevedore and a seamstress respectively. Momma Mazie, as she was, and still is affectionately called, was born in the said house she now lives in, on May 29th 1911, with the same old rafters, obviously, with a little modification. Isn't that incredible?
As a youth this young and aspiring child was loved by all with whom she came into contact. When one considers that the family is the oldest institution on earth and the vital role it plays in maintaining good moral and ethical values, one must have no other alternative but to crown Ismay Veronica Sweeney as not only "Mother of the Year" but "Mother Over the Years".
Her tenure throughout life is worth revealing, so as to pave the way for our younger generation. Her own youth was in those 'good ol' days' when one had to attend church and Sunday school. Momma Mazie stuck to that task, where discipline and respect was the norm, throughout one's development. This little girl would be seen every Sunday morning with her mother heading towards the Methodist church at Seaton's Street, where she was christened and later Received. Sunday school that said Sunday afternoon was also a must, and that was held at the Hope Chapel Institution in George Street, an institution which housed her early Kindergarten school years.
"School days were really happy days", were the words of this enterprising and inspirational lady Ismay Veronica Sweeney.
At the age of six, she left the Hope Chapel, which was in walking proximity to her home, to attend her new primary school, the Basseterre Girl's School, under the principal, Miss Bradley. Certain exemplary qualities were embedded into the lives of our fore parents, which induced persons such as Miss Sweeney to follow in their footsteps, implementing and executing those wonderful traits that were essential to good community development and enhancement. A foundation of such magnitude gave one the impetus to be self-sufficient, not forgetting honesty, integrity, love and affection for your brother man. These psychological influences helped her to remain undaunted throughout her worst trials and tribulations of her life, and also to resist any of those evil temptations that would have surrounded her in her locality.
Mazie, having lost her father Alfred in 1923 when she was twelve years old, found life more complex, which caused her to vacate school and to go in search of work. This however helped to ease the burden her mother had to bear, by helping to sustain the whole family. As she grew in stature, she became more and more industrious and ambitious to the extent where she was able to help to sew garments, a job that her mother was a master at, and to make conky and cassava bread which was to be sold.
Life became yet more difficult after the death of her dearly beloved mother some years later. Even though she was able to acquire the said property from her mother in George Street Newtown, where she was born and still lives, the financial aspect of life began to follow a downward trend. As a beautiful and talented young woman, she attracted an enterprising admirer, to whom she was able to bring forth four delightful children, namely Frank, Enid and Dennis, who all reside in St. Kitts, as well as Bronte (now deceased).
At the age of fifty-one, in 1962, she visited her family in England, and returned to St. Kitts some twenty-five years later in 1987. In an interview with her recently at her home, she indicated to me that she had lived a good life, from pitching marbles to skipping, playing bat and ball, and most of all, dancing away to some good old string band music, of which she had much appreciation.
The name Momma Mazie rang a bell throughout the length and breadth of the Newtown community, and became quite synonymous with positive Christian community values, in the same rank as Lady Locker Allen, Ada May Edwards and Mary Charles George, just to name a few, who were all dedicated to a just cause. She was well known and loved in her own little role as a counselor and advisor, one whom the youth, especially those who needed sound parental guidance, would listen to and respect.
Growing up as a youth, I remember this amazing character, who possessed many qualities, especially the Sunday school classes she held in her back yard, which motivated and stimulated the many youths, myself and family included, who attended occasionally. Mother Mazie herself attended Brother Rogiez's church, next to National Bank, which I later attended myself, of which she is still a long-standing member. She always encouraged her children to build within themselves the same spiritual mobility that she herself possessed.
Going to buy the cola sweet drink from Mistress Dolphin, picking up the bread at Fulton's Baker and passing Mazie’s home to go down to the Bay front to select the right type of fish from the fishing boats would have been a regular feature of our lifestyle. It was here that her grandchildren became my good friends and schoolmates, which made my friendship with Mazie much closer, and they also came regularly to buy from my father Mr. Nisbett's liquor and groceries shop which was just a few steps away in Carty Alley.
In conclusion, while sitting with her, comforting her through the many nights, Mazie and I have enjoyed much debate, companionship and historical and cultural awareness over the years, especially because of the close inter-family relationships that continue to exist over several generations. Her children as well as grandchildren must also be highly commended for their dedication, application and inspiration towards her, and the way they have cared for her, especially in her later years.
When I asked her "now that you are approaching your 100th year, have you any regrets?" she replied, "I have no regrets at all: I lived my life, and later gave my life to God". Then I asked her "how do you feel? Are you in good spirits?" and she had very high praise for her children "I am well taken care of by my sons Frank and Dennis, and my daughter Enid who lives with me and cares for me. This surely keeps me alive."
Let us all embrace and emulate this true champion. Happy 100th birthday! And hope you will live to see many more! May God richly bless you and keep you in good health and strength, and shine His light on you!
This is a model of love and compassion by a family that cares. May God continue to bless them all, and keep them from all harm and danger. From the Doctor of Culture.
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