Against all medical odds, after a devastating health scare that left her large family bracing for the worst earlier this year, Muriel Gibbons officially marked the extraordinary milestone of turning 100 years old this Thursday. Surrounded by generations of loved ones, close friends, and a high-ranking national leader at her long-time residence in Ashton Hall, St Peter, the newly-minted centenarian marked the momentous occasion with quiet joy and warm celebration.
Acting President of Barbados, Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Gibson, joined the Gibbons family for the birthday festivities, adding official recognition to the community celebration of Gibbons’ life and legacy. Though the 100-year-old remained softly reserved throughout the gathering, family members confirmed she clearly relished the outpouring of affection, surrounded by dozens of relatives who shared stories, toasts, and heartfelt well-wishes in her honor.
For Gibbons’ kin, the celebration carries far more weight than a standard centennial birthday. In January of this year, Gibbons suffered a sudden stroke that left the family fearing they would lose their beloved matriarch before she could reach the 100-year milestone she had long hoped to see. Rather than placing her in institutional care, the entire family rallied together to care for Gibbons at her home, taking turns around the clock to support her recovery. Against all expectations, the resilient Gibbons pulled through, defying the family’s darkest fears to walk into her 100th birthday celebration.
Marva Griffith, Gibbons’ fifth-born child and one of her 13 children, opened up about the emotional journey the family has taken this year. “I’m so excited,” she shared during the celebration. “She wanted this, but she got ill in January, she had a stroke, so we thought that she would not have made it so far. But we kept her home and we looked after her. She’s good. She doesn’t give any trouble and we take turns as a family looking after her.”
Griffith went on to credit her mother’s unshakeable resilience and lifelong work ethic as the foundation for the entire family’s success and close bond. A single mother who worked for decades as an agricultural laborer to provide for her large brood, Gibbons leaned on the support of both her own parents and her late partner’s parents to raise her children, instilling core values of hard work and discipline that still shape the family today.
“She worked hard. She was an agricultural labourer and a single mother, and my grandparents, maternal and paternal, helped us a lot. We are what we are today because of her,” Griffith said, adding that strict but loving discipline was a cornerstone of the family’s upbringing. “As for our parents, they believed in discipline. In those days, you had to explain yourself if you did anything wrong.”
Gibbons’ son Jerry Gibbons also shared an emotional tribute to his mother, describing her as a lifelong source of guidance, wisdom, and unwavering support. “I spent a lot of time with my mother. She’s my guide, my advisor, and I love her a lot,” he said. The experience of raising his own children gave Jerry a new perspective on the depth of a mother’s love for a large family. “When I became a father, I realised that you love each of your children differently, but you love all of them the same.”
He also recalled the small, foundational life lessons his mother taught him over decades, from how to cook a meal to how to navigate life’s challenges. For Jerry and the rest of the family, the wish is simple: they hope Gibbons continues to thrive for many more years to come. “I wish her a happy 100th birthday and I hope that she stays around to be more than 100 for sure,” he said.