Burnham is Barbados’ newest centenarian

Centenarian Marion Burnham is a praying mother and ensures daily that she prays for members of her family and the Barbadian society.

She shared this as she thanked everyone for joining her yesterday for her 100th birthday celebrations. The avid gardener was surrounded by relatives, some of whom flew in from England, friends, and her church family to observe the happy occasion at her daughter’s Mount Standfast, St. James residence.

The island’s newest centenarian also spoke about her love for God and recited her favourite bible scripture, Psalm 19.

“I always thank the Lord and I pray for everybody, the ones that driving, the ones that flying and the ones that working. Well I finish work. I worked at Discovery Bay as a housekeeper and Lone Star minding the children. I attended church and Sunday school. I thank the Lord all the time and I pray for everybody and it is my desire to keep trusting in the dear Lord as long as he [gives] me breath,” she said.

Burnham, who attended the St. Alban’s Girl School, is the mother of seven children, four of whom are still alive. She is the grandmother of six, great-grandmother of seven and great-great-grandmother of two. She was married to the late Abdon “Donny” Burnham.

Her daughter, Cheryl Rivera shared that her favourite foods are soup and sweet potato.

“It is never a question of what she would have. When she was growing up she was a daughter of a fisherman so she ate lots of fish and ground provisions like sweet potato. Up to today, she still loves that. So if I am not cooking soup and I am cooking any other meal, I have to have a slice of sweet potato for her unless she would ask where the sweet potato
is.”

To mark her birthday, Burnham received a special visit from His Excellency, the Acting Governor General, The Hon. Sherman Moore. He presented her with a floral arrangement, a birthday card and a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne.

The Governor General said it was an honour to be in attendance at the day’s birthday celebrations. He further stated that she was well loved and wished her God’s continual blessing.
(MG)