BIBIANA Hernandez, now affectionately known as ‘Mama’, was born on December 2, 1912 at Barima River, North West Region, where she grew up and was later married to Diaz Hernandez. Together they migrated to Bumbary Hill, where Mr. Hernandez eventually died.Her union with her husband Diaz produced eight wonderful children — three boys and five girls, who were all educated at Hosororo Roman Catholic Primary School, and each did his/her parents proud.

‘Mama’now resides with her grandson Paul Hernandez, his wife Edna, and their children at Bumbary Hill, Mabaruma Sub-Region.She spends the day quietly enjoying the usual warmth and their tender loving care affectionately bestowed on her.
On Mama’s 100th birthday, her grandchildren hosted a gala celebration for her. She had a birthday cake, plenty of fun, and lots to eat and drink; and the parish priest celebrated a mass in her honour at her home. But on her 101st and 102nd birth anniversaries, the focus was more on thanking God for His love and mercies, for health and strength, for caring family members, and to be able to live in a home where love abounds.

Mama’s children and grandchildren still have proud recollections of the ‘looker’ Mrs Hernandez had been during her youthful days, and of the long, black curly hair she had sported. She’s of mixed ancestry, and has a combination of Spanish, African, Portuguese and Arawak (Amerindian) extractions, her granddaughter Bernadette Mc Kinnon recalls.
She and he husband Diaz were staunch Catholics, and brought up the family in the fear and love of God. “She was a faithful soul. She would round the family up every Sundayand walk more than one mile to attend Mass at the Hosororo Roman Catholic Church. Mama never liked to miss a Sunday Mass,” Bernadette recalled.
Mama’s daily routine, in her time, was to get up by 4:00 hrs promptly, offer prayers, then prepare breakfast. She’d then pack the children’s lunch kits and, by 5:00 hrs, she and grandpa would head off to the farm in the backlands. There they’d work until noon, then return home.
“On the farm they planted ground provisions, citrus fruits, cocoa and coffee beans, and that probably led to her avid love for coffee as a beverage. In fact, up until now, she delights in a hot cup of strong coffee to complement her favourite — hot pepperpot with cassava bread.
In times gone by, Mamareared poultry and had lots of yard (creole) fowls; and since soup is one of her favourite dishes, she would occasionally (on someone’s birthday, Easter Sunday, Christmas or New Year’s Day) deplete the stock in order to prepare a sumptuous meal of chicken soup.
The Guyana Chronicle had featured mamaon the occasion of her 101st birthday. At that time she was still fairly strong, and even though hearing impaired, was able to see. Her routine was to sit on a bench out in the yard and watch the children play cricket. This time around, however, she’s confined to bed, having last year suffered a fall which fractured her hip. She is alsono longer able to see, but is still as pleasant as ever she was, and still looks forward to having the priest, or even her Parish Lay Assistant (PLA) visit the home to bring her Holy Communion.
And just what would make Mama’s day?A fond hug, the stroke of her hair, or the gentle whisper of her loved ones asserting “Mama, I love you.”