Visitors to the Miriam Gumbs Senior Citizens’ Home, from all walks of life, will miss Austin Richardson, a former longstanding resident there. He passed away on February 22, at the age of 99, some five months short of his 100th birthday in July.
The visitors, and the residents and dedicated staff at the Home, will miss this jovial and friendly gentleman who was formerly from North Hill. A twinkle in his eyes, he was a live wire in the sprawling hallway of the Home, calling out to visitors, attracting much attention to himself – and even occasionally poking fun at his fellow residents.
Visitors naturally felt gravitated to him and would head straight in his direction to exchange greetings and to share his humour and goodwill.
It is no doubt that had Austin lived to become Anguilla’s next centenarian, it would have been a big celebration of a gentleman who not only attained such a grand old age, but who enjoyed life and showed love to all despite his circumstances.
His funeral was held on Saturday, March 11, at the Bethel Methodist Church, followed by the interment in the Churchyard Cemetery.
