President Paula-Mae Weekes is one of the many people who sent birthday wishes to centenarian Violet "Sweet" Simon. A postcard with 100 written on the front and a birthday message was delivered to Simon by her grandson Ian Haywood Jr.
Haywood read what Weekes wrote to his grandmother: "Happy 100th birthday! With 100 years of priceless moments under your belt, your heart must be full of joy and you deserve every precious memory. You shouldn’t only be congratulated for reaching 100, an amazing milestone in itself. You should be praised for the love, caring, and wisdom you’ve given so generously every day for 100 years to your friends and family. I take great pleasure in wishing you the happiest, healthiest, sweetest, luckiest, brightest, sunniest and best of birthdays. My prayers are with you and may God continue to bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he continue to grant you peace and good health."
Simon smiled, said thank you, and clapped.
Also, present and bringing greetings was businessman Howard Sabga, who said he has known "Mother Simon" for 35 years. He described her as a loving, caring and sharing person. He said he considered Simon as his mother as she always gave him good advice. She will always tell me, "The devil is busy and hold on to God.”
He said one of his "fondest memories of Mother Simon was making me climbing up an down hills distributing hampers for the needy and when she see hampers running out she used to divide the hampers so that every needy person will receive one".
Debbie Arindell said she has known Simon for almost 40 years as she worked with her family until her retirement. She describes her as a dedicated family-oriented person, who gives the most powerful hugs!
"She is a really strong person who has overcome hardships and disappointments with an enthusiastic love of life and her God. An inspiration to all of us," Arindell said.
"Simon is a loyal and dedicated worker who is always cheerful and smiling. Her cooking was super, and her cinnamon buns and chocolate fudge are famous as I always get requests from my friends in London for them. She never forgets people and would visit our family long after she retired."
Dr Kern Tobias, president of the Caribbean Union Conference of the Seven-Day Adventist Church said, "Sister Simon will always advise us on what to eat or not to eat, take regular exercise and hold on to God." He recalled that in his early days as a pastor, she gave him $100—that was 40 years ago and money had more value. He admitted he really needed the money to put gas in his vehicle as he had little money. "She never gave up and will always says 'Don’t forget God, hold on to him'."
About Violet Simon:
She was born on March 20, 1919, in the lovely Pearl Paradise, Grenada. She was the third of ten children—six of whom were boys.
In search of a better life, she came to Trinidad in 1942, at the age of 23, during World War 11.
Simon found employment at the Perreras in Bayshore and worked with them for many years until their children were grown up and stayed on many years after, so loyal and committed she was to her work. Her starting pay was a meagre $8 per month. Simon's next employer was the Arindells in Ellerslie Park, where she worked until she retired.
In 1945 she met and was wooed by a tall, brown, handsome Rawl Simon, who she wed and had two lovely girl— Ursula and Mavis. However, when her husband walked out on them in 1950, she became a single parent and was forced to support her two children on her own.
Her daughters have made her very proud—Mavis is a head nurse employed with the North West Reginal Health Authority while Ursula lives in Holland. She is also the grandmother of two, great grandmother of four, and great great grandmother of one.
Simon is a faithful follower of Christ and became a founding member of the Stanmore Avenue SDA Church during the early years under Pastor Gadsby, where she worked as a Sabbath School teacher and was engaged in many missionary efforts. Over the years Simon has been an avid worker in the vineyard—practising as a devoted head deaconess.
In 1979 Simon had a vision to establish a church in the Long Circular Area and requested 1,000 Sentinels to start field work. She enlisted one Peter Smith to work along with her. It was because of these efforts in 1980 that a crusade was held by Pastor Matthew where 50 people gave their lives to the Lord and were baptised. This was the beginning of what is now called the Ebenezer SDA Church.
she also contributed $20,000 towards a children's home in Sangre Grande and works very hard to bring in additional funds to the home each year.
Simon is a stickler for discipline, she has been a strict vegetarian for over 50 years. She is an avid bible student, never missing a Sunday or Wednesday night service, ingredients that help keep her alive and well at 100.
—Reporting by Ralph Banwarie