The Cassada Gardens community is celebrating the 100th birthday of Mrs Laurna Agatha Lloyd Mills, a cherished mother, grandmother, and long-standing figure in local church and community life.

Born on 18 August 1925 in Parham Town to Beatrice Matthew and Douglas Lloyd, Mrs Mills is the last surviving sibling of seven children. She attended the Moravian and Parham Schools before working at the Naval Base and later as caretaker at the Simone Boulevard Pumpkin Preschool.

She married the late John Mills of St Kitts and Nevis in May 194_, and together they raised eight children – four born in St Kitts and four in Antigua. Her family has since grown to include 22 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Over the decades, Mrs Mills has been known for her hospitality, offering food, phone access, and care to local students, as well as her creative handicrafts using seashells, matchboxes, and yarn.

A devout member of Ebenezer Methodist Church, she was a regular at Sunday services and sang in the Community Senior Citizens Choir. She and her husband were also active in the Auxiliary Lodge, enjoying outings from Sunday drives to visits to the GEM Cinema.

A long-time supporter of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, she campaigned alongside the late Lester B Bird and continues to follow national affairs closely.

Even in later life, Mrs Mills has retained her independence and sharp memory, able to name all her children and grandchildren. Her sense of humour is well known, often joking about her age for the past 20 years.

She continues to enjoy traditional dishes such as fungi and fish, pepper pot, and salt fish breakfasts, welcoming friends and neighbours to her gallery, where she is affectionately called “Mother”.

Family members describe her as “loving, wise, and full of life” and say her century-long journey is a testament to her resilience, compassion, and joy.