Celebrating A Century: Agatha Murray Defies Odds To Mark 100th Birthday With Love And Gratitude

There’s a new centenarian on the block! On Friday, Ms. Agatha Murray celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family in fine style and after hearing about the long life, it could be said that achieving this milestone of 100 is even more of a miracle. This, as Ms. Murray recalled that after her birth, her mother was told that her baby would not live. "I was born very sickly when I was small so the people telling my mother to throw me away because I wouldn’t live, but my mother take care of me and I live to this age, thank you very much." One of her friends recalled the moments they shared while giving of their time in ministry to the sick and aged for over 25 years. "Sister Agatha, everything, especially on the first Sunday in December where we used to bring in all our sick and aged members for a lovely Christmas Mass first and Christmas dinner and we give them a hamper. Every first Sunday of the month, you see her how she is dressed there? She would be dressed in white with a white hat and so on and she goes from place to place." The birthday girl was elated to be surrounded by all of her friends and family as she celebrated her 100th year. "Let me tell you all too, I was born in Grenada but I came to Trinidad at 17 years and I love here and I think I am a Trinidadian right now in all ways, because you know why? Trinidad and Tobago Government taking care of me so I have to thank them very much. And I work in hospital for 28 years and I was well treated too so I thank everybody here. I thank the Trinidadians and everybody." At her birthday celebrations, the mother of three, grandmother of 16, and great-grandmother of 25 was also honoured by the Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Donna Cox, through the Ministry’s National Centenarian Programme. She was given a cake, hampers, and a certificate from the Ministry to mark the milestone achievement. Minister Cox told her, "And it says certificate of honour and achievement and this certificate is presented to Agatha Agnes Murray born November 8th, 1924 in recognition of your valuable contribution to Trinidad and Tobago, signed by me and the Permanent Secretary, and this is for you." Turning 100 is no easy achievement, some might even say it’s golden, which made the final presentation of a gold medal most fitting for the centenarian’s birthday. Minister Cox reminded those at the birthday celebrations to register their family members. "You know I want to tell you all too that if you know anyone from 95 up please register with the Ministry, register with the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services. Some of us will have family members or even neighbours and so on, please register because we want to celebrate." It’s evident that Agatha Murray made it against all odds. Many have shared that that their diet, lifestyle, and even their relationship with God helped them to reach the age of 100. Perhaps for Ms. Murray, it could have also been the time she gave in her younger years to assist the sick and the elderly that added some more days to her life calendar.