Stabroek News is pleased to celebrate with its oldest vendor, Ismay Young called ‘Aunty May’ of 53 Russell Street, Charlestown, who turned 90 years old on Monday. Aunty May has been a vendor for Stabroek News dating back to when the company was located at Peter Rose and Anira streets in Queenstown.
When Stabroek News visited Aunty May at her home, she was about to fetch some water from her pipe in front of her yard.
Aunty May sells newspapers for a living but this 90-year-old also cooks, cleans, washes and takes care of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who live with her.
She wakes up every morning around 4 am and presents herself at Robb Street to collect newspapers to start her daily business.
Persons can find Aunty May selling newspapers in front of her home at Russell Street from 5 am until her papers are finished.
Aunty May was born in New Amsterdam on September 10, 1922, but moved to Georgetown at the age of 16 to live with her father. She then remained in Georgetown and started selling fish, vegetables and tripe. After her early experiences in selling various items, she became a vendor for Stabroek News.
The bubbly, short and slim woman said that she has no health problems at her age and attributes her longevity to eating lots of provisions and hard work.
She added that she plans to continue selling papers as long as she is alive.
When asked what she likes to eat, she replied “well I does eat anything you know.” But her great-granddaughter who was standing next to her, replied, “she like ham and egg,” a fact she later admitted to.
When it was time to have her picture taken, Aunty May, who was wearing a Digicel jersey, said she had to go inside and change her attire because she was not properly dressed for a photograph. After a few minutes she returned all dressed up in a white shirt and matching shoes, with a beige skirt along with gold earrings and chain. Her hairstyle was also changed from her aging white hair colour to a neat short black bob hairstyle.
She then informed us that she was ready to have her picture taken. Aunty May also told us that she likes what she does and her job as a vendor assists her in supporting herself.
Aunty May, who was never married, has four children, over 50 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
