Latest update April 7th, 2025 12:08 AM
Guyana’s oldest laid to rest
Guyanese from all walks of life paid a fitting tribute to the woman who laid claim to being Guyana’s oldest. A home going service was held on Sunday at the Springlands Seventh Day Adventist Church in honour of a well- lived life of Mrs. Ismay Winifred Spooner, who was born on December 27, 1900, in Barbados.
Ismay Spooner
She was the wife of the late Carroll Spooner, a Barbadian who was brought to Guyana to work on the sugar plantation as an indentured labourer.
The now dead Ismay Spooner worked at Springlands and Skeldon Estate in her younger days. She was a pioneer in the formation of the Springlands Seventh -Day Adventist Church which she served as a Sabbath school Superintendent, teacher and Welfare personnel.
She served the Church for more than seventy years. She was a role model not only to the church members, but also to the community in which she resided. The church was called the ‘Bajan Church’ since only Barbadians attended. Mrs. Spooner lived with her mother, who died at the age of 103. She nursed her mother until her demise. She was a remarkable nurse in her own way.
She had two other siblings: a sister and a brother. Both are deceased. Her house was always open to anyone who needed a place to sleep or house to live. She even built and repaired her own house with her own two hands. She loved the hammer and nails. Mrs Spooner only mothered one daughter who passed away overseas, after being taken there by her white father. Nevertheless, she adopted many children.
And so, the tributes flowed at the going -home service. Speaker after speaker spoke highly about Guyana’s famous centenarian. She was introduced to this nation through regular features and articles in this newspaper.
Mr. Collin Bynoe, Guyana Teachers Union president, who conducted the service led the congregation in numerous songs.
Among persons who made tributes were the Chairman of Corriverton Interim Management Commitee (IMC), Mr Bhawase Harripal; Regional Chairman Mr. Permaul Armogan, Dr Faith Harding and Ouditnarine Tejpratap from the New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitratian Mission, Guyana Chapter.
Armogan told the assembly, “ President Donald Ramotar has asked me to express his regrets for not being here to pay his final tributes to this fallen sister, but he wishes to let you know that his prayers are with the relatives and friends”.
“There are two things in her life that must be pointed out. The first one is her penchant for hard work. She believed in hard work and she laboured a lot in her lifetime. And this tells us a story that hard work doesn’t kill anybody.
Dr. Faith Harding said, “Mrs. Spooner had a way of touching peoples’ lives”.
Mr. Tejpratab, secretary of the New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission said, “Mrs. Spooner was a mother to the Mission”. He also reminisced about the time when members of the mission went to visit her and Pandit Suresh Sugrim fed her ice cream; her favourite treat.
“Unfortunately, Pandit Sugrim could not get a flight to come to Guyana and be here today. Nevertheless, he asked me to speak on his behalf. There is nothing that any of us can do today to make Mrs Spooner a happier person.”
The secretary for the NJASHM/GC reminisced about an encounter Pandit Suresh had with Mrs Spooner some time in 2011.
“I can clearly remember how happy she was when she had her favourite thing, Ice Cream. She talked about how much she loves listening to music, preaching and the teacher teaching the children on the radio. Her love for radio was so much, since her sense of sight was taken away.
“Most importantly, I remember her praying for Pandit Suresh Sugrim before he left. She was indeed a role model. She was a virtuous woman that the Bible speaks about.”
The funeral procession was escorted to the burial ground by youths from the church and a police drum session.
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