BIOGRAPHY

Rita Smyke was born in Princes Town, Trinidad and Tobago, on 29 December 1913. She was a descendant of the Merikins, formerly enslaved African Americans who fought for the British against the U.S. in the War of 1812.

Her second daughter, Jackline Cooker, fondly remembered her mother as the neighborhood “lawyer” and “doctor.” She recalled that whenever someone had a medical issue, Smyke would leave her children at home with a list of tasks and accompany the person to the clinic or hospital. Her husband passed away in 1979. Until the age of 75, she would walk nearly a mile to care for an elderly woman. When her husband wasn’t working, she would wash and iron clothes for others to help support their five children. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and dedicated several decades to community service.

At the age of 100, she had two living siblings: her sister Henrietta Bush, who was 94, and her brother, Henry Charles, who was 82. Shortly before her 107th birthday, her son Jimmy passed away, leading the family to postpone her celebration. The eventual event was held under the patronage of Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe, who joined the festivities virtually and sent a large bouquet of flowers.

Rita Smyke passed away in Marabella, Trinidad and Tobago, on 21 June 2024, at the age of 110 years, 175 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age has not been validated.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Rita Smyke is Princes Town’s latest centenarian” – Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, 1 January 2014

* “Merikin matriarch Rita Smyke celebrates 107th birthday” – Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, 9 February 2021

* “T&T’s oldest Meriken descendant celebrates 110th birthday” – Trinidad Guardian, 31 December 2023

GALLERY