Mother Baker - oldest mother in SK!!
109 and still going strong

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

109-year-old Florence Baker

Sometime during the afternoon I boarded a bus bound for the village of Cayon. A few minutes later I arrived at the home of the 109-year-old Florence Baker, affectionately known by members of the Cayon and neighbouring communities as ‘Mother Baker’.

Since it was my first visit, I really did not know what to expect, but I was warmly welcomed by Mother Baker’s 90-year-old daughter, Marian Grant, and was quite taken aback with what I learnt on my relatively short but educational and rewarding visit.

I learnt that Mother Baker, while a tiny tot, lived in Newtown before being taken to Brighton Estate by her mother who was seeking employment. She spent the rest of her childhood there and later begat three children of which two are still alive.

While being interviewed, Mother Baker’s motherly instincts kicked into high gear as she imparted a few words of wisdom; words that I heard before, but for some strange reason they were even more impactful.

“Do not go and get yourself into any trouble like a lot of these other girls. Keep yourself out of trouble…Ah beg you kip from trouble…”

Mother Baker went on to explain that during the early ages of her children, she “had them on strict order” as she deemed it important to train them up in the way that they should go. Baker noted that she was also made it her business to pass on tips of discipline to children in the neighbourhoods in which she resided.

She said that mothers of today should endeavour to ensure their children are molded rather than allow them to succumb to the pressures of negative influences.

Grant said that some of her fondest memories of her mother are those of her participating in the traditions of yesteryear, dubbed “Services of Songs”. Grant said she remembers her mother travelling around the island to star in these events. ~~Adz:Left~~

“She went around singing carols for people during the Christmas season and she did that up until about one and a half years ago. She was and is a very loving and pleasant person and she took care of me, and now I am taking care of her. She is a very good mother,” Grant said.

While the 90-year-old stated that she has nothing special planned for her mother on Mother’s Day, Grant said that when she would have awaken on Sunday she would utter a prayer to the Lord on her mother’s behalf, thanking him “for his wonderful blessings”. And Mother Baker said she too would offer the Lord thanks and praise for his many blessings.

At 109, Mother Baker still enjoys a “jig”, is very alert, suffers from no ailments, is able to and does bathe herself and can still read without the aid of eye glasses. She, according to her daughter, “can eat anything” but prefers to maintain a diet on the healthier side.

Over the years, she had received a number of plaques and certificates from the Ministry of Social Development for her longevity and contribution to nation building.

Mother Baker, the oldest mother on St. Kitts as well as the oldest mother in the Federation, was born on November 19, 1898.