BIOGRAPHY

Sarah Symphor was born in Macouba, Martinique, France, on 26 August 1914, , daughter of Aujédat Jeanvillier and Eugénie Ruster. She came from a family of six. At around six years old, she moved to Saint-Pierre to live with a friend of her mother, who later became her adoptive mother. In 1928, they both left Saint-Pierre for Fort-de-France due to signs of activity from Mount Pelée. At that time, she was 14 years old and immediately joined Les Fourneaux Convent, where she became Sister Louise at the age of 16. After a ten-year novitiate, she began working at the old people’s home.

At the beginning of the Second World War, she moved to Rivière-Salée and became a laywoman. Soon after, she met André Symphor, with whom she had six children who later blessed her with 14 grandchildren. Sarah worked as a seamstress while in the religious order, but in civilian life, she cared for many children entrusted to her by the Departmental Directorate of Health and Social Affairs (DDAS) at home. During the day, she looked after other children in addition to her own, allowing their mothers to work in the cane fields. She raised her children in her religious values ​​and was also very active in her church.

For her 110th birthday, her daughter Josette organized a special celebration in Macouba, her birthplace. The festivities began with a church service, honoring Symphor’s early years as a nun, and continued at the village hall. The town of Macouba chose to honor her by awarding her the town’s honorary citizen medal.

Symphor passed away on 19 September 2024, after being hospitalized at the Saint-Esprit Hospital.

RECOGNITION

Her age has not been validated.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Sarah Symphor, doyenne de la Martinique de 110 ans, reçoit une médaille de citoyenne d’honneur” – Outre-mer la 1ère, 27 August 2024

* “À Macouba, la doyenne de la ville faite citoyenne d’honneur” – France-Antilles Martinique, 3 September 2024

* “Sarah Symphor, doyenne Rivière-Salée, s’en est allée” – FranceAntilles.fr, 25 September 2024

GALLERY