The V.I. Department of Human Services announced Monday that the Division of Senior Citizen Affairs (SCA) celebrated six Centenarians who have reached milestone birthdays over the last several weeks.

The V.I. Centennial Living Treasures Award Program was established by the 31st Legislature in 2019 to recognize and honor senior citizens who reside in the Virgin Islands upon attaining their 100th birthday. The law also calls for special recognition to those centenarians.

Recipients of the living trust award must have resided in the Virgin Islands for not less than 30 years and must be residing in the Virgin Islands when they attain the age of 100. An annual appropriation by the Legislature is dispersed accordingly, according to D.H.S.

D.H. Division of Senior Citizen Affairs staff, accompanied by Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and Lt. Governor Tregenza Roach, coordinated the in-person presentations of the Centennial Living Treasures Awards to our beloved Centenarians, according to the release.

On St. Croix, DHS was joined by Governor Bryan to visit and present the Centennial Living award to Abraham Hewitt. Likewise on St. Thomas, SCA Division Staff was joined by Lt. Governor Roach to award checks to Centennial living treasure awards to Olivia Carty, Lilian Browne, Winthrop T. Elskoe, Kiturah Donavan Smith and Miriam Adina Mitchell-Prince.

“It is always brings me joy to personally speak to and award our Centenarians every year,” stated Ms. CauseyGomez. “These older adults continue to add value to our society as they bring 100+ years of experiences, living through World War II, the first man in space, to electric vehicles and Facebook. This is a time to celebrate their resilience, wisdom and contributions.”

She thanked Mr. Bryan and Mr. Roach for accompanying DHS to make the check presentations. “We received plenty of advice on the keys to longevity from our recipients during the presentations including ‘Stay true to yourself,’ ‘Be a Happy Person,’ ‘Go with the flow’ and [Have faith,'” the commissioner said.

The following Centenarians represent a fraction of Virgin Islands residents who have attained the age of 100 years and older, according to DHS:

• Abraham Hewitt -102 Years Old (St. Croix)
• Olivia Carty – 104 Years Old (St. Thomas)
• Lilian Browne -102 years old (St. Thomas)
• Winthrop T. Elskoe – 102 years old (St. Thomas)
• Kiturah Donavan Smith- 100 Years Old (St. Croix)
• Miriam Adina Mitchell Prince – 101 Years (St. Thomas)

If you have a relative or are the legal guardian/power of attorney for a senior who has attained the age of one hundred and meets the qualifications of the Centennial Living Treasures Award, you can contact the following individuals at the Department of Human Services Division of Senior Citizens Affairs for information on how to register the senior citizen: 

St. Thomas/St. John and Water Island District:

• Ernie Pennyfeather, Administrator, Division of Senior Citizens Affairs
• E-Mail: [email protected]
• Phone: (340) 474-1041 or (340) 774-1166

St. Croix:

• Alvin Milligan, Assistant Administrator, Division of Senior Citizens Affairs
• E-Mail: [email protected]
• Phone: (340) 725-5756

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