Herman Ward celebrates 100th birthday

By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com

100-year-old Herman Ward

The attendees, including grand and great grand children, were joined by the Minister of Health and Social Development, Hensley Daniel, and Leader of the Opposition Vance Amory to celebrate Ward’s 100th birth anniversary and to complement him for being a model family man and a community-minded individual.

His daughter, Hyleta Liburd, a former Chief Education Officer in Nevis, told guests that her father is a good neighbor to all. She said he adopted many families that were needy and shared his land produce with them.

He was also a source of inspiration for many and a great encourager. “He is a living example of what families should be like,” Liburd said and highlighted aspects of her father that made him stood out as a model family man. She also noted that prior to his wife’s death, Ward and his wife had the same expressions to offer on numerous topics and they shared the same understanding of a given situation. 

“Daddy is a wonderful counsellor…daddy is a very generous person,” Liburd said as she spoke about her father’s work ethics, noting, “Daddy was a hard worker.” She also expressed the view that if one does not work one can be crippled.    ~~Adz:Right~~

In Ward’s earlier days, he was an eminent farmer and grew among other crops, sugar cane, potatoes and cassava, and reared many animals. He was also an outstanding mason, skilled stone-cutter and was involved in the construction of various buildings including Golden Rock, the Rectory in Gingerland.

Ward was also popularly known for his gift in the building of ovens. 

Other exemplary qualities of Ward that Liburd talked about were his warm personality and infectious sense of humor.

Also impressive is Ward’s love for his Creator. “He loves his Creator,” she said and pointed out that he prays often and constantly sings, “Oh Praise and Thank the Lord.”

Speaking on behalf of her siblings and the extended family, in the presence of all, Liburd turned to her father and said, “I am so in love with you…thank you for taking care of me.” 

In the recent past, Nevis has been celebrating the birth anniversaries of its senior citizens, of whom many were octogenarians and nonagenarians, as well as a few centenarians, and the majority is of the fairer sex.

This clearly shows that the female population of the older generation on Nevis is outliving its male counterpart and may have the formula for longevity. However, Herman Ward, the only living man on that island, seems to be in possession of that formula.

According to information reaching SKNVibes, there are only two centenarians on Nevis…Herman Ward and a female whose name this media house was unfortunately not able to obtain.

The staff of SKNVibes therefore joins with the relatives and friends of Herman Ward in wishing him health and strength as well as many more years of bliss, and requests that he shares his secret of longevity with the nation.