Agatha Neil still active and sharp at 95
Published:Thursday | January 4, 2024 | 12:11 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
Wearing an African-themed outfit with headwear as well, Agatha Vanzeita Chambers-Neil cut quite a pretty picture as she sat on the veranda of her daughter’s home in Four East, Portmore, St Catherine, last Saturday.
Born on December 25, 1928, ‘Anta’, as she is affectionately called, greeted each guest before explaining the family connection to her friend and neighbour Icyline James. And with the 14 children she shared with her late husband George Samuel Neil, 27 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren, there was quite a lot of meeting and greeting happening.
Two of her sons predeceased Mrs Neil, who proudly describes herself as a country girl having been born in St John, Clarendon, before relocating to the rural community of Orange Vale in Redwood, St Catherine, where George, who died in 1996, was a farmer. She recalled that things have changed significantly since then when accessing public transportation was a major issue, and market trucks played a pivotal role in the movement of people and goods.
Most of her children and grandchildren now live abroad, spread between the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, and Mrs Neil keeps in touch with them all through her mobile phone. The radio is also pivotal to her daily activities, which include reading her Bible and listening to the talk shows with most of that time spent tuned to the programmes from the Northern Caribbean University. Between talking to her sister and keeping abreast of the happenings in the global community by her children and grandchildren abroad, Mrs Neil also stays on top of things in the community through regular chats with her neighbours.
Understandably, Mrs Neil is not as mobile as she once was, but her mental faculties are incredibly sharp, and she will readily argue on a number of issues about which she feels strongly, and she still has a remarkable memory. In fact, her mental faculties are quite sharp, and Mrs Neil does present some challenges for her caregivers. She does not want her meals heated in the microwave and instead insists that this be done on the stove. Soup is her favourite meal, and this 95-year old still feeds herself.
Having moved to Portmore, where she spends time between two of her daughters – Consie and Lazarine – Mrs Neil is always in demand, with young people seeking her advice on a number of issues, and she is always ready with a disarming smile and her sharp wit. Anta is still keeping those around her on their toes and gainfully engaged at the age of 95.