EUGINEA WILLIAMS (Aunty Jean) is known both far and wide as one of Guyana’s veteran disciplinarians, who has not only instilled high morals and levels of order amongst relatives, but also in many disturbed homes in and outside her community. She was also an avid singer and musician and over the years has naturally passed the legacy of rich music to off-springs and other that treaded her family line. She has been the public figure to inflict great justice and peace with her firm, sound and positive advice, and even more famous for rightfully admonishing even the sometime, elite snobs of today’s society.

When she turned 96 years on Wednesday last, it was quite natural for the folks at the Calcutta Full Truth Tabernacle, well-wishers, relatives and even outsiders to throw a lavish surprise birthday celebration in her honour. Just the week before I was lucky to be drawn into conversation with the still peppy and somewhat very alert Euginea, and she was lamenting how some of her grandchildren had abandoned her and how it tore at her heart string to witness their failure to visit and give her those special hugs and kisses of love that every old woman yearns for at that age. Euginea for several years took in her grandchildren when their parents forsake them and maintained them as her own with the very little she mustered from odd jobs here and there, or from the small dividends she got from selling her juicy fruits from her many jamoon, mango, dunks, and genip trees. She has been known to take her very small old age pension also to make ends meet in the home. A grandmother of such magnitude certainly deserves the love and security of the ones she cared for during her somewhat youthful days. She was particularly aghast and crest fallen of the crude actions of one grandson who she had sheltered for many years after the cruelty of a wicked step-father forced his mom to get rid of him or lose the relationship all together. She fed him and schooled him for several years all on her own, but sadly when he became a man and attained high office he deserted her all together. He was not even at her birthday celebration and that really stirred her up a bit. Surprise, Surprise!!! As her 96th birthday drew near, surely she must had been hoping that she would be surrounded by all her relatives, especially those grandchildren for whom she had diligently played the role of ‘mother and father’ over the years. But her brethren at the Calcutta Full Truth

Tabernacle Church, and sections of her family clan were secretly planning the spectacular birthday service and festivities which were executed on Wednesday. When she got wind of their intentions she was very touched and I know she was hoping deep inside that this would be the opportunity for her to be surrounded by all her loved ones. So there she was with her feisty self-giving instructions that all her relatives be contacted and make an effort to be present at the function. Around 13:00 hours that day they dressed her in a brand new custom made dress that was simple, but still stylish as Euginea would have loved it, and she wore an adorable pair of matching moccasins. Her greying air was done nicely in her favourite ‘country styled bun’ by her great-granddaughter, Anasa Latiff. And there she was clutching her purse in which she had her savings and all her ‘fine change’ as she would call it. And let me tell you folks, no one dared attempting to get into that purse without permission. If they did they would receive a ‘whack’ from the walking stick that Euginea carried with her most times. The birthday service began at around 15:00 hours but not before tons of food and non-alcoholic beverages were transported to the location. The area was nicely decorated by the sisters of the church who had joined with relatives to do all the cooking, and there was a pretty pink and white cake at the head table. Her grandson Rudolph Williams (Jnr.) opened the service with praises and stirring songs before her son Sherlock English offered prayers to the Creator.

Then there was time for speeches and well- wishes and the audience thoroughly enjoyed this session as relatives gleefully reminisced on the usually ‘fiery eruption’ of ‘Granny’ as everyone called her, as she administered discipline and order far and wide. Pastor Desmond Ross in his presentation spoke about her strong hold for discipline, order, and sound advice, while her youngest son, Alex English reflected on the legacy of music she left behind. Euginea during her younger days had ensured all her children were taught in the way of the Lord, and has also made them gifted singers and musicians. To attest to her musical exploits was her son Rudolph Williams (Snr.) who was there creating magic on keyboard, while Sherlock and Rudolph Williams (Jnr.) led the gathering in joyous, melodious singing. Euginea always creates a stir Euginea has been known to make grand entrances and always create a stir wherever she goes, and that was exactly what she did on her birthday. Well there she was as usual fussing about wanting to blow out her cake candles herself. So giggling with mirth, her granddaughter Kay McKenzie and her daughter-in-law, Lorretta Williams helped her to the table, while a church sister lighted the candles. Well, maybe they were moving too slow for ‘Aunty Jean’ so without warning or waiting for instructions, she bent forward to blowout her candles. But I guess she swooped too low and her lips connected with the flames and candles and extinguished the whole lot. But of course she got hot wax on her left cheek and upper lip and the ‘supporting ladies’ had to move quickly to remove the matter. Then it was time for sticking the cake, but ‘Aunty Jean’ modestly nibbled a small bite and settled down nicely, smiling demurely with satisfaction. There after there was jubilant singing as relatives and supporters joined this good sister of the soil in celebrating a birthday that just sets her four years apart from her goal of living to a century.
Written By Alex Wayne