The Reverend John Adolphus Gumbs, a much-loved and respected religious and community figure in Anguilla, has celebrated his 101st birthday.
The milestone on 15 August was marked with greetings from family, friends, government representatives and others from across the community.
On the day, the Anguilla Social Security Board presented him with a personalised birthday card and the traditional centenarian’s birthday cheque.
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In a Facebook post on 18 August, the board extended its “warmest birthday greetings” to Gumbs and wished him continued good health, happiness and many more blessings.
Gumb’s daughter Josephine Gumbs Connor described her father’s 101st birthday in a Facebook message as “a special day” and said she is very grateful for his presence.
“His voice is not as sonorous any more – it is much softer now – but when I asked him what he has to say about being 101 years old, his response was: ‘Well that just means I am being cared for’,” she wrote.
She credited her mother, Veronica, with playing a central role in caring for him during their nearly 60 years of marriage, noting that he often joked that marrying a nurse had its benefits.
Gumbs Connor also thanked family members, Viewfort Estate staff and others in the community for their role in supporting his care.
A ‘life beautifully lived’
In a celebratory message, the Foundation Methodist Agogic Centre, which he founded, described him as a “true living legend”.
“We celebrate not just an incredible milestone of longevity, but a century-plus life beautifully lived in service to God and humanity,” it read.
The centre went on to say that he revolutionised education in St Maarten, establishing a foundation of Christian values, discipline and academic excellence.
“Countless alumni are making a difference across the globe because you dared to chart a course for us to follow,” it said.
Bishop Reverend Damien Hughes, president of the Leeward Islands District of the Methodist Church, described Gumbs as the “oldest living ordained Methodist minister”.
“Reverend Gumbs represents a living witness to the enduring grace and faithfulness of God,” he wrote in a Facebook message.
“His long life reminds us that ministry is measured not only in years of active service, but in a life continually held, sustained and shaped by the God who calls us and remains faithful through every season.
The Ebenezer Methodist Church delivered its own message, giving God thanks for Gumbs’ “remarkable life and faithful service throughout the region and beyond”.
Born in Anguilla in 1925, he devoted more than six decades to ministry, education and national service, leaving an enduring impact on both church and society.
In 1947, Gumbs became one of the legendary ‘Holy Seven’ pioneering Caribbean ministers trained in Jamaica, the church explained.
Together their vision and leadership helped to lay the foundation for the establishment of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA).
His ministry spanned the Leeward Islands, Aruba and Curaçao. He made history as the first Anguillian to serve as chair of the Leeward Islands District, opening doors for generations of future leaders.
Beyond the pulpit, he championed democratic governance, serving as chair of the Anguilla Constitutional and Electoral Reform Committee and as the first nominated member of the Anguilla House of Assembly.
