“It is God who has me here for a purpose. I have lived to be 100 years so far today, June 30, 2021, because God is good.” Those were the strong and confident words of Ruby Violet Reid, as the Governor, family and friends joined in celebrating with her on that day, Wednesday.
The celebration, with special birthday cakes, an assortment of delivered food and bouquets of attractive flowers, was thoughtfully held at Da’Vida’s Bayside Beach Bar at the scenic Crocus Bay. It was just about the same site where she, and relatives of her generation, resided and tilled the ground many years ago.
The centenarian, now living in the Roaches Hill area, is easy to converse with – her alertness and all her faculties being wonderfully in place. “God is so good that I don’t have tongue to praise Him,” she emphasised as she spoke with The Anguillian newspaper which she reads without glasses every week. “One 100 years is not 100 days or a 100 months.”
Reflecting on her life, at a much earlier age, Ruby, as she likes to be simply called, went on: “I remember working ground. I was never weary working, planting peas, corn, potatoes, yams, everything. I planted around my house here and in The Valley Bottom.
“I had six children, but one, my second son, David Emanuel Hodge, died. My first child is Ralph Vincent Cornwallis Hodge. Not because he is my child, he is a good child. Everybody has good children, but I tell you that up to now he is a good child. As I said, Ralph is the first; David died; Evan is the third; then there are Rubina, Cedric and Helen.”
Among those with Ruby, was her dear and faithful friend, Celia Gumbs. “Me and she were together from day one and all when she made that boy, Ralph, and up to now,” Celia said. He is my godson. “I made 93 on the 22nd of this month.”
Ralph, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and a former Acting Deputy Governor with a MBE Award, was within earshot of the conversations. “There was a very close relationship between my mother and myself,” he commented. “When my mother worked for 13 dollars a month, and had five of us, people said she should take me out of school because she couldn’t afford it. But she said no and the result is very evident. I believe that my mother may very well be the only person in Anguilla who has returned to where she was born one hundred years ago. My mother, my grandmother and my great grandmother were born just next to us on that property right there. It is actually mine. It was given to me by my mother.” He added: “I have been taught that it is not by the physical riches that you own, that makes you a man in this world. I have been taught that what makes you a man is your mind – and your mind is nurtured by the people around you.”
Governor Dileeni Daniel Selvaratnam later joined the birthday party. She presented the delighted Ruby with a Birthday Card, telling her that it was from Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Ruby gracefully took it from her and began reading the message – all without glasses.
“It is a pleasure meeting you on your 100th birthday. Congratulations,” the Governor told Ruby, initiating a conversation which continued something like this:
“I am happy to meet you too,” Ruby replied.
“You are having such a wonderful time. That’s incredible,” The Governor told her.
Ruby responded: “Yes, God has been good to me and I praise Him. I just can’t explain to anybody just how good God is to me and all when I was going to school. Up to now I have everything in my brain.”
“That’s has certainly been a great blessing. Goodbye, I have to go. Take care,” the Governor said.
“God Bless you,” Ruby ended the conversation.
In addition to the Birthday Card, the Governor presented Ruby with a bouquet of flowers.
Another presentation was made to Ruby by the Director of Social Security, Mr. Timothy Hodge, and the Public Relations Officer, Ms. Rosanna Browne, who also read out the accompanying message. The envelope contained a cheque for EC$500.00 – a usual gift given to each centenarian.
It was a most delightful and memorable day for Ruby, her family and friends.
