The historic town of St. George’s came alive with joy and reverence this weekend as family, friends, and community members gathered at Penno’s Wharf to celebrate an extraordinary milestone — the 109th birthday of Ms. Leona Thompson, now recognized as the oldest living person in Bermuda.
Though her birthday fell on April 11, the celebration was held on Sunday to allow the community to fully participate in honoring a woman whose life has spanned more than a century of Bermudian history.
Adrian Tucker-Raynor, Director of Nursing at Dorothy Crane Nursing Home, spoke warmly about the occasion and the woman at the center of it all.
“Ms. Thompson has had a birthday celebration every year since she turned 100,” Tucker-Raynor shared. “This year, we wanted to do something bigger — something that would allow more people to come out and celebrate her. She absolutely deserves it.”
And indeed, she does.
Born on April 11, 1917, Miss Thompson has lived a life marked by service, grace, and quiet strength. She worked for decades as a housekeeper and nanny, remaining in service until the remarkable age of 89. Even after retiring, she continued to stay active, later serving as a tour guide at St. Peter’s Church, sharing Bermuda’s rich history with visitors from around the world.
Known in her earlier years as a member of the African Violet Society, Ms. Thompson was also remembered fondly for her charming home — a storybook-like house with a white picket fence that left lasting impressions on those who passed by.
Despite being deaf, Ms. Thompson remains mentally sharp and engaged. Communicating through written notes, she reads and responds thoughtfully, a testament to her enduring awareness and spirit. Even on her special day, she showed her personality — puckering her lips for lipstick and smiling brightly when told how beautiful she looked.
Her secret to longevity?
“No stress, eat well, believe in God, and pray.”
Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful, or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites, or repeats previous comments will be removed.
User comments posted on this website are solely the views and opinions of the comment writer and are not a representation of or reflection of the opinions of TNN or its staff.
TNN reserves the right to remove, edit or censor any comments.
TNN accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for the comments made by users.