Sister Fyffe Turns 100

Mar 22, 2016 News

On March 16, 1916, Philip and Christina Fraser, of Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice, experienced

Sister Fyffe

the joy of welcoming their first child into the world. She was to be followed by four others —Ephraim, Evelyn, Itlan and Muriel – two brothers and two sisters, and she was special.
Not only would she outlive those who followed her, she would be remembered as one of those lived to celebrate 100 years of life, and in fairly good health.
Alma Christina Fyffe, nee Fraser, well known as Sister Fyffe, still moves around the house quite comfortably, but would resort to using a cane beyond the walls of her home. Her vision can be described as normal, in that she is able recognize quite easily any visitor to the home, and she has total control of her faculties.
I spent some time chatting with, “Sister,” as she is fondly called, and it was a wonderful discourse.
When asked about her school days, she identified two former Principals, School Masters, as they were then known, of the then St. Albans Anglican School; Belladrum Government School and now Belladrum Primary School. They are the late G.O. Fox who became Chief Education Officer, and R.C.G. Potter who wrote the music for Guyana’s National Anthem. She described them as being firm, but very caring.
She also spoke well about the late Fredrick Robertson, a native of Belladrum, one of her teachers who also became Head Teacher at Belladrum. School days she recalled, was much fun, but the children then had great respect for their teachers. The village in general ‘looked up’ to teachers.
As a child growing up in Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice, Sister Fyffe recalled that children then were very respectful towards adults. In most cases there was much trouble for a child should the parents receive report of that child being disrespectful to an adult or a teacher.
Sister recalled that she had to complete various chores before going off to school in the morning, and when she returned in the afternoon, she had to assist with the animals reared by her parents, or assist on the plot of land cultivated by her father.
Like many young ladies of those days, she had to find the time to learn sewing, which would have turned out to be useful, in that she was able to generate an income from sewing.
Sister Fyffe was asked to share the secret to living to be one hundred years, and she was quick to emphasize that she had a very good husband who was quite a gentleman. He was always loving, and he always put the welfare of the family above everything.
Additionally, she had a mother-in-law who was ‘quite nice’. Sister stated that she lived a simple life, and that she has been a devoted Christian believer. She had learnt to trust the Creator, and so did not worry or fret over any situation.
She was baptized into the Anglican Church, but was converted to the Jehovah Witness denomination after she met her husband.
In 1939, Alma exchanged marriage vows with the late Rupert Nathaniel Fyffe, with whom she had a wonderful relationship until he passed away in 1988. She relocated to Number Twenty-Two, Bel Air where they raised a number of children— Janice Nelson, Faye Bowman, Joseph Daly, Stanford Wilson, Daniel Fyffe, Olris Fyffe, also Tessa, Ava, Murtland and Charmaine Paul.
And, having shown unconditional love to those children, today she is rejoicing, for they all have been taking care of her in their own way. The phone just kept ringing as everyone tried to contact her to offer congratulations on the significant achievement of being able to live to 100 years.
Alma Christina Fyffe , also known as Sister Fyffe, and fondly called Sister by close relatives, has dedicated much of her life to sharing the news Jehovah’s love for mankind, and has been buoyed by the hope of life in Paradise. Together with her loved ones, Alma is expressing thanks to all those who called in with wishes, as well as they are thankful for the many gifts received.