the days have hurtled by quickly since then, but Thursday, August 26, 2010, was a special day in the life of Charles Christopher Gumbs (Charley), of the Quarter. On that date he celebrated his 100th birthday which made him the oldest man in Anguilla. It was a three-part grand occasion which comprised a Thanksgiving Service at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, a luncheon at DaVida Restaurant at Crocus Bay and a cocktail party at Serenity Resort at Shoal Bay.

Family, friends and well-wishers at the Church Service

The Rt. Rev. Errol Brooks, Parish Priest and Bishop of the Diocese of the Northeastern Caribbean and Aruba, along with Rev. Menes Hodge, officiated at the church service. It was attended by a well-represented cross-section of the community including past and present Government officials, family and friends.

Family, friends and well-wishers at the Church Service

A round of applause, initiated by Bishop Brooks, echoed through the church building at the commencement of the service. “Here he is, giving thanks to God for His benefits and this is not just ‘a put on’ for this occasion. Charles is forever expressing his gratitude for God’s goodness…and invariably he breaks into tears,” the Bishop said. “He relishes those occasions when he is able to attend worship. He knows that it is only meet and right that he should give praise and thanks to God for allowing him to reach this wonderful milestone in his life. So Charles, we have come as family and friends, in this sweet morning hour…, to join you in your thanksgiving to God. Our wish for you is that you continue to grow in God’s grace and in favour with God and man.”
In pointing out some of the lessons to be learnt from Mr. Gumbs’ longevity, Bishop Brooks declared that he believed that “a vital Christian faith is the greatest life-sustaining force as we face the increasing years of life.”

He went on: “In the book of the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 46 and verse 4, it is revealed that the enduring under-burdening structure of our lives is this: ‘even to your old age, I am He; even to your grey hairs, I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear, even I will carry and deliver you.’ It seems so amazing that the Master of the Universe should care so much and make each of us this personal guarantee. All we have to do is hang in there by faith and keep on living with purpose. If we are honest with ourselves, we would all admit that God has never let us down.”

Bishop Brooks blessing Mr. Gumbs

Bishop Brooks stressed the importance of right living and counter-balancing destructive characteristics with positive qualities in life. “As we prepare for life, we are preparing for age,” he noted. “Every day of our lives is judgment day. We are becoming what we are going to be. The best approach to age is to deepen one’s life now; improve the disposition; control the temper; sweeten the spirit; deepen one’s consciousness of God; and give life freely so that we may receive it.”

Another important admonition he gave was that retirement did not mean retiring from life. “We retire from one phase of responsibilities to new dimensions of creativity; new interests and opportunities of services,” he stated. “We just do not prepare for death when we retire. We are preparing for life still and rather than packing it in during retirement, we should use our talents, creativity and energies in positive ways. Maybe by so doing, we may add some years to our lives.”

Members of Mr. Gumbs' family

Mr. Gumbs was a pioneer in the taxi-service business in Anguilla. A widower and father of a number of children, he relaxes at his residence in The Quarter where he enjoys a quiet life with visits by family members and friends.

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