Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
West Berbice granny hits 101
Members of St Gabriel Mothers Union of Number 28. MP Jennifer Wade is also in picture with Mrs Watts.
Mrs. Virginia Watts celebrates 101
It was quite a grand occasion as relatives, friends, as well as well-wishers who on Thursday last, gathered with the children of Virginia Euphemia-Watts to celebrate her birth anniversary at her residence in Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice.
She is now 101.
In her own words: “One hundred and two will be better.”
Watts nee Benjamin, also known as ‘Cousin Baby’ and ‘Granny’, was born on September 5, 1918 to Evan Emanuel Benjamin and Elvira Benjamin nee Carmichael at Trafalgar/Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice.
She was the first of five siblings…all the others have passed away.
Watts recalled attending the St. Gabriel Anglican School, Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice; St. Paul’s Primary, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara; and Queenstown Primary School on the Essequibo Coast.
She ended up in Essequibo as her father was a policeman who worked at various stations throughout the then British Guyana.
In her teen years, she was able to master the art of sewing, and eventually ended up teaching the skill to females in the community. It helped her to earn an income.
The union between Watts and her husband, the late Joseph Burchell Watts, bore six children one who has since passed away.
Watts was well travelled. She said that after her marriage, she settled with her husband in Tumatumari, Region Seven where he worked as Sick-Nurse/Dispenser with a mining company. She lived there for a brief period until her children were old enough to attend public school.
She remembers opening her doors to many villagers who travelled to the hinterland seeking employment in those parts.
One quite memorable experience for the centenarian back then was travelling into the interior by aircraft which landed in the river, and passengers had to embark on a boat to complete their journey.
She also recalls travelling from Berbice to Georgetown by train and joining the vessel, R.H. Car, to travel up the Demerara River to get to McKenzie- now Linden- where her husband spent some time working with the Demerara Bauxite Company, DEMBA, after the gold and diamond mining company ceased operations at Tumatumari.
Watts said that life was not all rosy for her.
She recalls working hard in support of her husband who at one time cultivated rice and reared livestocks in order to afford their children quality education.
She is thankful to the Almighty that all of her children have done well.
A devout Christian, Watts said she instilled Christian values in her children.
She has been a member of the St Gabriel Mothers Union having joined from its inception in 1962.
She would have served the organization as secretary at one time as well as treasurer at another time.
Now housebound, Mrs. Watts is frequently visited by lay preachers, relatives and friends, as well as special church groups.
She has advice for them too and would even sing.
Watts was a founder member of the Golden Grove Union Cooperative Society at the time when cooperatives were considered the engine of growth for the economy.
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