Grenadian centenarian Judith Mends celebrates 108th birthday

Family, friends, supporters and well-wishers on Sunday celebrated with Grenadian centenarian Judith Mends on her 108th birthday.

Grenadian-born dentist Dr. Joseph Radix, Mrs. Mends’s nephew, and his wife, Barbadian-born Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, hosted a grand birthday bash at the Radix’s residence in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Among the visitors and guests were New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and his Grenadian-born mother, Patricia Williams.

Dr. Radix told Caribbean Life that his aunt was born in Petit Martinique, the smallest of the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique.

He said that Mrs. Mends spent most of her younger years residing in Carriacou as a business owner, running a general store.

“She was very involved in many aspects of the Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique community,” Dr. Radix said. “She was a strong supporter of her next-door neighbor and former Prime Minister Herbert Blaize.

“She taught piano lessons, organized cultural activities, spearheaded the building of a community center in Carriacou,” he added. “She was and still is a big supporter of the Hillsborough Roman Catholic Church in Carriacou.”

Dr. Radix said Mrs. Mends is one of two sisters still alive. The other is Christina Roberts, another centenarian, at 101, residing in St. George’s, the Grenadian capital.

Dr. Radix said he was “blessed” to have Mrs. Mends as his aunt and her attainment of the significant milestone, stating that he loves her “dearly.”

“She is no nonsense, yet very compassionate,” he said. “She is a true matriarch of this family, and one who leads by example.

“She will always offer her thoughts, ideas and even implement them before you accept them,” Dr. Radix added. “For me, she contributes many years of wisdom.”

He said his aunt, affectionately called “Auntie Judith”, comes from a relatively large family of eight children.

Dr. Radix said Mrs. Mend’s sister, Alethea (deceased), was his mother.

Mrs. Mends said she felt “loved and wanted” by the birthday celebration.

Another nephew, dentist Dr. Eugene Stanislaus, son of the late Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus, a former Grenada Ambassador to the United Nations, remarked about “the close bond” between his dad and his aunt.

Lawyer Jovia Radix-Seaborough, the eldest daughter of Dr. Radix and Justice Hinds-Radix, said her family is “still blessed” that “Auntie Judith” is still in their lives and that they are still gaining “pearls of wisdom from her.”

Dr. Radix said his aunt is “still fully cognizant and has all of her faculties,” stating, however, that “she is aided by a walker.”

“She has a fantastic memory and can recite people’s phone numbers without any assistance,” he said.

“She is still very involved with her church in Carriacou, and is always asking for contributions to help her church and her community,” Dr. Radix added.