BETSY Ground centenarian, Racheal Isabella Micheal, smiled widely and her eyes twinkled with excitement after she was told that it was her special day.

Racheal, now a petite woman, is being well-cared-for by her children. When Guyana Chronicle visited on Wednesday, she was dressed in a lime-green lingerie and sat on a sofa at her Lot 25 Betsy Ground home, East Canje, Berbice.

On October 23, 1919, the lone survivor of four children was born to Henry and Ellen Georgina Micheal at the New Amsterdam Hospital, then located at Charles Place, in the Berbice township.

She had a twin sister who lived for only three months. But Racheal was born to survive. She first attended the now defunct Ghostonehall School before moving to the Number Two Primary School after her headmaster was transferred there.

Although she could not relate much to her visitors, her daughter and caregiver, Barbara, and grandson Burnadis, were quick to fill in the missing pieces since the story of their beloved relative was told so many times to them that it stuck in their memory.

The transfer of the headmaster of Ghostonehall School created new challenges, as the students had the uphill task of trekking the two-mile journey daily to their new school.

What was sometimes scary was the fact that, in those days, the roads were narrow and were lined with canefields. Persons traversing did not know what to expect as anything could have happened.

Fortunately, nothing ever happened. After leaving school, the now centenarian worked burning bricks to build roads in Stanleytown, New Amsterdam. She also worked in the “Dute Fields” where rice bags were made.

Unfortunately, “Cousin Racheal” was never married but gave birth to five children namely, Ivor, Winslow, Claville, Barbara and Patrick.

As a single parent, she also sought employment as a cleaner at the Rose Hall Primary School but discontinued after she developed an allergic reaction to dust.

However, by then, her offspring were grown into responsible adults, who were gainfully employed and thought that their mother had worked hard enough to retire and spend time instead with her grandchildren.

Her children recalled her guiding and loving hands as she cared for them when they were younger.

“She had an amazing way of telling the time. If the village cows were going to the pasture, and we were still at home, she would hurry us out to go to school, and, by the time the animals return to the village, we better be at home,” recounted her daughter, Barbara.

Barbara also said her mother was always peaceful and implored her children to stay together and live in peace, even when she would no longer be around.

Racheal Isabella Micheal is the oldest member of the St. Patrick Anglican Church Mothers’ Union and while she is not involved as she was many years ago, she is remembered by members of the religious group, who will be in attendance at the specially planned birthday celebrations on Saturday.