Cousin Inez scores 100
Written by Shirley Thomas
Wednesday, 25 July 2012 23:39
Source - Guyana Chronicle
THE ranks of the centenarians in Guyana were on Tuesday further strengthened when Mrs. Beatrice Thomas, of Haslington, East Coast Demerara celebrated her 100th birthday
Beatrice Thomas, fondly referred to by villagers as ‘Cousin Inez’, is the oldest founder-member of the Mother’s Union, at her Parish, the St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Enmore, also on the East Coast of Demerara.
Minister Priya Manickchand with centenarian Beatrice Thomas
In recognition of the special milestone, a prayer breakfast was held at her home on Tuesday morning, with a more elaborate thanksgiving service to be held at the same venue on Saturday. Joining her at the birthday breakfast were family members and close friends, as well as her parish priest, Rev. Monsell, who brought her holy communion. Later in the afternoon she received a special visit from Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.
Manickchand extended warm birthday greetings and presented her with a hamper of goodies.
Born on July 24, 1912, to parents Elai King and Charlotte Morrison, she grew up at Enmore where she received a sound primary education. She later married Clarence Thomas.
Even though the union brought forth only one child, Beatrice Thomas is now blessed with five grandchildren; 13 great-grands and 20 great-great-grands. They all hold her dear and continue to shower her with love.
Cousin Inez’s only offspring died about 10 years ago, but her granddaughter, Valerie Peterkin-Haynes, with whom she lives, and the rest of the clan continue to do an incredible job of filling that void.
As her grandchildren now recall, Beatrice had many hobbies. She loved singing, plants and flowers, and kept a beautifully decorated and well appointed home. And being of a tender and nurturing nature, she cared for flowers the way a mother would a child.
Another of her specialties was cooking, and this she did for a living. She was employed as cook at the Bookers Sugar Estate at Enmore for the greater part of her working life.
Outside of her job, she was mainly preoccupied with church work, when not doing house work and helping to counsel her grandchildren on ‘proper parenting’. Indeed, they had great times together.
Cousin Inez, who is blind, suffered a stroke last February. Until then, Valerie recalls, her grandmother was up and about the home, moving about with her walking stick, and she was always jovial.