Aunt Hilda Marie Smith is one of those chosen few blessed to be around to mark their 100th birthday.

At the celebrations on Sunday for this veteran former day school principal and Sunday School teacher, she was hailed as a God-fearing, praying woman, a 'true angel of the Lord'.

She is in full possession of her faculties and is unwrinkled with skin as smooth as a baby's. And her memory is phenomenal.

Miss Smith is a resident of Packwood Home in Somerset. The birthday celebration there was organised by her closest kin, Mrs. Joan Forde, Mrs. Valerie Symonds with Dr. Shangrila Durham Thompson as mistress of ceremonies. They, like scores of others, including countless former students, have adopted the centenarian as Aunt Hilda.

Premier Ewart Brown personally brought greetings on behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda. He was particularly pleased to do so because, he said, Miss Smith was his Sunday School teacher at Evangelical Tabernacle Church in Flatts where he grew up and she was also church organist for 50 years, until 14 years ago.

Others she taught seven days a week took part in the service. Among them was David Darrell, who came from Toronto with his Canadian wife Joan especially for the event. He had not seen his Talbot School teacher for 60 years when he went abroad to make his home.

Mrs. Forde's sister, Julia (JuJu) Durham, came especially from North Carolina to join other siblings at the celebration. They included Hilda Marie Romaine, who is named after her aunt, Curlene Warmbrun and brothers MacArthur and Laurie Furbert.

President of Leopards Club International Denny Richardson spoke at length about how his teacher impacted on his life and fellow students. He fluently quoted memory verses, scripture texts and poetry that were drilled into their heads. And he sang a couple of songs accompanying himself on his guitar, backed up by Danny Durham on his saxophone. Miss Smith showed her unabated musical skills with a couple of renditions on the piano for the guests.

That all added up to a delightful afternoon, topped off by devotionals conducted by Allen Temple Pastor Rev. Betty Furbert, with other participants Presiding Elder Malcolm Eve, Bishop Norris Dickenson and his wife Miriam, Mrs. Gwendolyn Lightbourne, Mrs. Mae Smith and Mrs. Mildred Hodgson.. Tributes were also paid by Lady Swan, Dr. Bert McPhee, Mrs. Cecily Snaith and Mrs. Sally Perinchief. Miss Smith has spent her life inspiring others with her love of music and joy of teaching. She was born on October 21, 1907, the only child of Edwin and Edna Smith of Hamilton Parish. She was raised by her grandparents and her aunt Julia Furbert. From an early age she showed great aptitude for the piano

By the time she was aged ten she had completed the seventh grade and took her first job as a monitor at Temperance Hall School. She continued her education at the Berkeley Institute and later at a vocational school in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her musical abilities continued to blossom in Canada, where she learned to play the harp and saxophone.

Upon returning to Bermuda Miss Smith became principal of Talbot School in Smith's and was never absent in her 30 years there. Later she accepted a position at the new Harrington Sound Primary School, and subsequently taught at St. David's Primary and at Elliott School.

She attributes her long and productive life to the admonition of her favourite scripture, Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not onto thine own understanding.

Se said she still purses an interest in her two favourite subjects, biographies and history, and avidly reads her Bible and plays the piano for the daily devotional period at Packwood Home.

Pictures show Hilda Marie Smith exulting at the tribute on her 100th birthday, coming from an old Sunday School student, Premier Ewart Brown. Below she's with her adopted nieces Mrs. Joan Forde, left, and Dr. Shangrila Durham Thompson.