Cutting the birthday cake with a little assistance from Robertine Manuel-Javois (left). (Robert Luckock photo)
GRAND CASE--A very special celebration took place Sunday afternoon at Grand Case Beach Club for the 100th birthday of Urbain Javois with several generations of the Javois clan attending to pay tribute to a remarkable milestone. Some even travelled from abroad for the occasion.
The conference room of the hotel was packed for the buffet lunch, as tributes, songs, laughter, and entertainment continued into the evening. At the centre of it all was the man of the moment, Urbain Javois, resplendent in his trademark suit, hat, and sunglasses, surrounded by family, friends, siblings and grandchildren. Opening prayers were given by Marcel Javois and Pastor Jerome Thomas.
Sidony Miller stood by his side to sing a tender song followed by the reading of Urbain’s biography by his granddaughter Kayla Martin. Later, another song was sung by Adelita Javois and Maria.
Urbain “Ben” (Bentou) Javois was born on May 25, 1926, in La Savane to parents George Javois and Virginie Javois-Illidge. He grew up in La Savane and attended primary school in Grand Case. He married Ana J. Javois-St. Jago (deceased) in Aruba on June 24, 1953, (they were married for 50 years before her passing in 2004)
His extended family includes nine children (Zenia, Adelita, George, Lionel, Raphael, Roberto, Robertine, Mathilde, and Marcel), 24 Grandchildren, 33 Great-Grandchildren and one Great-Great Grandchild.
As a young man he travelled to several islands to pursue employment for a better life, living and working in Guadeloupe (a short stint in the cane fields), St. Croix, Aruba and Curaçao. His main profession was a car mechanic, but he also worked as a school bus driver and later a taxi driver from 2001 to 2009 before retiring.
He lived 12 years in Aruba where he worked as a mechanic before being asked by Mr. Charles Vlaun at F. W. Vlaun & Sons to come and work as a mechanic in his car dealership.
“He spent two years there before Vlaun sent him to Detroit, USA, to work in the Chrysler manufacturing plant where he spent four months training as a mechanic, “noted Robertine Manuel-Javois. “He then returned and continued to work for Mr. Vlaun for a while before starting his own car mechanic business, setting up a garage under a Tamarind Tree. By then, his reputation as honest and dependable was growing, and he became known as “Ben the Mechanic.”
In a tribute to his career as a mechanic, each of the lunch tables was named after a brand of car. For example, Ford, Buick, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, etcetera. Urbain passed his mechanical skills down to his sons Raphael (Raphie) and Lionel (Leo). On the spiritual side, Urbain was a member of the Men’s Fellowship at the Grand Case Catholic Church for many years.
As far as his personal characteristics are concerned, Kayla Martin noted that Urbain would always be well-dressed and well groomed, having a calm and confident spirit. He was hard-working, disciplined and dependable. He is famous for his words: “I don’t worry about nothing”, clearly a philosophy that is key to his longevity and good health.
Several persons took the microphone to pay tribute to Urbain for a life well lived, including Collectivité President Louis Mussington, who attended with his wife. A highlight was the cutting of the birthday cake. Entertainment was provided by The Best Trio Band and DJ Patrice. Thierry Gombs was emcee for the celebration.
