SINT MAARTEN — Today, I had the privilege of celebrating an extraordinary milestone with Ms. Doris Olive Hodge-Wilson as she celebrates 105 years of life.
One hundred and five years is more than a birthday. It represents generations of memories, sacrifice, wisdom, faith and history. Ms. Hodge-Wilson has witnessed a Sint Maarten vastly different from the one we know today, and it is because of generations such as hers that we are able to stand where we stand today.
Her life story is also a beautiful reflection of our shared Antillean history. Born in Saba, she came to Sint Maarten where she attended school and learned skills that would remain with her throughout her life. She later moved to Aruba, where she worked and became known as an excellent cook. From there, her journey took her to Curaçao, where she worked as a seamstress, using a skill she had first learned here in Sint Maarten.
After a lifetime of work, movement, service and contribution across our islands, she returned to Sint Maarten to enjoy her golden years. In many ways, her life represents what it meant to be truly Antillean, connected not by one island alone, but by family, opportunity, work, culture and shared history across Saba, Sint Maarten, Aruba and Curaçao.
What touched me especially was the scripture she carries with her on her wrist: Proverbs 3:5–6:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
At 105 years old, those words carry a special meaning. They speak to a lifetime of faith, perseverance and trust in God through seasons of change that many of us can only imagine.
As we build the Sint Maarten of tomorrow, we must never forget the people whose lives helped build the Sint Maarten of today. Our seniors are not simply part of our past; they are living chapters of our history and a bridge between generations.
Ms. Hodge-Wilson, your journey across our islands, the skills you carried with you, the work you contributed and the life you have lived are all part of the rich story of our people.
May God continue to bless you, keep you and surround you with love.
Happy 105th Birthday. What a remarkable blessing and an extraordinary legacy.
Richinel S.J. Brug
