Country’s first female Marriage Officer is 102

Jul 23, 2014 News

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By Kiana Wilburg

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” This quote by Leonardo da Vinci best encapsulates the still vibrant personality of Guyana’s First Female Marriage Officer, Mrs. Dorothy Millicent Morris who turned 102 on Monday.

“Well child you know, God has really blessed me. His favour is with me. He has kept me here for so long to see the ages come and go. My God is so good,” Mrs. Morris expressed during an interview with this publication.

She recalled her days as a young girl who grew up in the heart of Georgetown, but moved to Enmore when she was about 10 years old to live with her father who was a Post Master.

“I never knew my mother. She died of typhoid. She left behind me and my big sister and we went to spend time with my father at Enmore. He was very strict, but oh, how he loved us very much. He later remarried and I had a stepmother, but I can’t remember her name, because that was such a long time ago. But I do remember that she made lovely cakes.”

“I went to primary school, Golden Grove Methodist, but I never went on to secondary school. I learnt how to make dresses and I was taught by a very classy lady back in the day and I was very popular. I made long dresses for every occasion. That was one of my best skills.”

Mrs. Morris said that she was quite the “regimented lady back in the golden days” but standards with some young women she said, seem to have dropped.

Before she elaborated on that point, she was asked about the day she met her first boyfriend. But the word in itself seemed to have shocked Mrs. Morris, for she lashed her hands on her chair and exclaimed, “Boyfriend? Oh No! I don’t know about boyfriend. That is a young people term.”

She continued, “When you say first boyfriend it’s like I had others. I did not. Back in the day women had to be circumspect. If a young man was fond of you, he had to write home to your parents for you. All I knew was my work and my church which I loved so much.”

“My husband came until I was 45 years old.”

Mrs Morris, who lives at 152 Duncan Street, Newtown, said that she only spoke formally to her husband until he was approved by a panel of “strict” persons in her family. She said that she and her husband, Alphonso Morris soon married, but he died in his early 50’s. Mrs. Morris has not remarried.

Though she has no children biologically, the 102-year-old said that she has many children she mothers.

“I don’t have my own children but I just adore them, boy or girl. I just love them so much, and I mother a lot of children. It is something special to nurture a child,” she asserted.

With a smile on her face, she then told this publication that she loves to eat pepperpot with freshly-baked whole wheat bread and a cup of barley porridge.

Coming back to her point on the drop of standards in today’s society, Mrs. Morris said, “I always wanted a girl child, but since I don’t have one, I always tell the girls that I mother to have values. Even though I grew up with a father, he always told me that patience is the virtue of a classy woman. She must not allow a man to pull at her or speak to her in any manner. And sadly, I notice that some girls these days allow that. I am a firm believer that women should not allow men to touch them until they are married. Trust me, hold out and he will value you and love and respect you so much.”

“I know some won’t want to listen to an old little lady like me but trust me, as a marriage officer I always tell women to take time to get to know your partner, and I don’t mean physically,” Mrs. Morris said.

She was also given the Medal of Service under the late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham for her commendable volunteer service.

“I remember some parts of that time. It was a special day for me and I was given that award because of my work I used to do with the poor and unfortunate. I always believe in sharing. It lights up my heart when I do that. I did a lot of feeding in the orphanages across the country and in many other homes. Because of that award now I always write my name with M.S. behind it. It was a great honour to have received that award. Burnham had also recognized me for my work in helping to get marriage officers licenced. I was the first person to start that,” she expressed.

As she holds the post of being Guyana’s oldest living National Awardee, she reminded of the title she also holds as being the first female priest at the African Methodist Episcopal church.

She said too that she enjoyed her birthday which was spent quietly.

Mrs. Morris concluded the interview with a quite touching assessment of her existence.

“I have lived long enough, taught long enough, and fulfilled the purpose the Lord set out for me…I will be happy to go stand by my maker’s side soon.”

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