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Rather than return to Barbados, Miriam journeyed to New York and on to Washington DC, where she lived and died. It was only about seven years ago that, through the wonders of the internet, we traced Miriam’s entry into the US. There it was on the Ellis Island website: Miriam Taitt, Para, Brazil, age 39, female, black. Year of entry, 1919. She had 50 dollars. I dare say that 50 dollars was a useful piece of change in 1919. At 90 years old, Mum had finally found her mother. Funny, she didn’t keep the printout. When she came to Barbados, Mum lived in Pavilion Road, Bank Hall, with her aunt (the sister of her mother) and her family, the Innisses. This is where she spent her early years and grew up. Mum would proudly proclaim that the house in which she lived was “behind the Empire Cricket Club wall”, just a stone’s throw from where Frank Worrell grew up. Of course, she had been living there quite a few years before Frank Worrell
Wentie. The trouble was that the Cumberbatches were Spartan Club members. The Innisses were Empire people. Here was this small pocket of Spartanites plumb in the middle of the sea of Empire supporters that surrounded the ground. Anyone knowing the history of the founding of the Empire Club in 1914, and the class prejudice that existed at the time, would recognize that the relationship between Mum and Wentie was not welcomed by either family. However, love prevailed, and they were married in 1937. The union produced four children. First Wallace, who died in 1996. Then me. Then Noel Annette, the Christmas Day baby. Then the baby of the family, Ronnie. We added fourteen grandchildren and twelve great-grands. Our father died in 1959, when Mum was just 47. She soldiered on and took things in stride. She became the matriarch of a large and loving family. She, of course, loved and was proud of her children.
Anyone knowing the history of the founding of the Empire Club in 1914, and the class prejudice that existed at the time, would recognize that the relationship between Mum and Wentie was not welcomed by either family. was born – in 1924! But, you have to excuse the claim to fame. Mum was taken out of school at the age of 14 and sent out to work - at a hardware store in Bridgetown. Thus began her working life, which included several stints as a sales assistant in Bridgetown stores. She retired in 1975 as a clerical assistant at Barbados Rediffusion Service Limited. The Inniss home was right next door to the Cumberbatch family home. Mum fell for one of the Cumberbatch boys –
She worried hard and worked harder to supplement the family budget to make sure that we were comfortable. She was always there for us, often in difficult times. Later, she was happy to do the same for her grandchildren. Anyone of them visiting her was always sure to get a little “something” put in their hands. If it is true that a rolling stone gathers no moss, then Mum would have been squeaky clean, for she certainly had her share of moving around in her lifetime. I can think of at
CIRCLE OF LOVE: Olga’s husband Wentie with their kids (from left) Tony, Annette and Wallace. Ronnie would later add to the circle. least fifteen locations that we lived. She lived with Wallace and Olwen at Prior Park, and she also spent some time at my home. There were periods when she lived overseas, with Annette and Grell in London, and in Paris. She also had extended vacations in Canada and in New York, with family and friends. If there was anything “Latin” about Mum, it was perhaps in her appearance. She was a good looker, and certainly had her share of admirers in her day. She thought young, and always looked to be twenty years younger than she really was. When she was 70 she looked 50. It was only after in her eighties when she had an unfortunate fall, broke her leg was laid up for over three months, that she then began to show her age. Even then she remained passionate about her appearance. Mum loved life and lived life. Her mantra was to get up every day and do something. A role
The Broad Street Journal • Tuesday, February 9, 2010 • Page 14
model indeed on how to face every day with vigor and zest – and a smile. She also took pride in being “with it” and followed closely West Indies cricket. She followed politics, Barbadian or US; and even was even hip on current technology. About a year ago she asked me if I would skype Annette so that she could shoot the breeze. Skypeing at 96. We will miss all that. Most of all, we will miss her magnificent memory, that stayed with her almost to the end. We all depended on her for dates and phone numbers. She loved to reminisce. She was the one we turned to for information on people and events of times gone by, or settling arguments. Whatever the subject: politics, cricket, life, she was on the ball, with every detail. She liked hearing a joke, and liked to laugh. That’s gone, but we will remember Mum and her regal smile. • BSJ