Evadney Talbot

BIOGRAPHY

Evadney Talbot was born on 10 May 1912, to parents Johnathan Watson and Louisa Hammer. She attended Buxton Congregational School and, after completing her elementary education, went on to develop her skills in sewing and dressmaking.

She married Kingsel Talbot at a very young age and had five children—two daughters and three sons. Before her marriage, she was well known for her handmade embroidery and dressmaking skills. In the early years of her marriage, she worked alongside her husband on the backdam farmlands, planting sugarcane and ground provisions.

Her husband passed away on 16 June 1985. She recalled that, with the support of her children, she focused on doing what was necessary to provide for her family. She engaged in sewing, domestic tasks, and eventually began selling goods at the village market.

At the age of 100, it was reported that she remained an active member of the Buxton Golden Age Club. She attributed her success in life, her family’s well-being, and her longevity to her faith in God. She shared that she sought to instill in her children the values of appreciating others, believing this would, in turn, inspire others to appreciate them. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she attributed it to God’s abundant blessings and believed there was a clear purpose for her long life. She revealed that she never enjoyed being idle and believed staying active was key to her vitality. She mentioned often going to bed late and rising early in the morning. As for her diet, she admitted she never followed any special regimen.

To most villagers, she was affectionately known as Cousin Vadney or Sister Vadney. She was a devoted member of St. Augustine Anglican Church, where she worshipped regularly until mobility challenges made it difficult for her to attend.