In one of the most absorbing human interest stories in Anguilla in recent times, Aubrey A. Gumbs and his wife, Gladys, sold their comfortable and spacious residence in The Valley to serve as a home for the elderly including themselves.

Ministers and Iwandai Gumbs at dedication.

Mr. Gumbs, a well known figure, with a prominent family background, won the admiration of many persons over the years as he provided care and support for his wife who came down with a stroke. Now in his advancing age (90 years), he became unable to render that kind of high level assistance to Mrs. Gumbs and like her needed someone to take care of him as well.

One day he travelled to the Tender Loving Care Senior Citizens’ Home at Rey Hill seeking two beds – one for his wife and the other for himself. To his dismay, he found the well-patronised facility overcrowded. He thereupon offered to sell his residence to the Proprietor, Brenda Hodge, to have more space not only to accommodate the inmates, but him and his wife as well. Later he eventually persuaded her to obtain a bank loan to purchase his residence for that purpose.

Staff at the Tender Loving Care Home

That former family residence now proudly bears the name: “Tender Loving Care Senior Citizens’ Home.” Mr. and Mrs. Gumbs have now retired side by side in what was always their master bedroom, and in the care of others, while more than a dozen of their fellowmen are being looked after in other specious rooms.

The new facility was dedicated on April 26 at a service led by Methodist Minister, the Reverend Joseph Lloyd, following the welcome by its owner, Brenda Hodge. “I want to assure you and all the other staff members of the Tender Loving Care Home that we are happy to share with you and the inmates in this service of blessing and dedication,” the Minister told her.

L-R: Hon. Kenneth Harrigan, Brenda Hodge and Hon. Victor Banks

“We would like you and all the care-givers to be assured of our deep appreciation for this very vital ministry which you are rendering to the various communities of this island. We are happy that at least you have grown a little bigger in terms of space as we know you hadn’t much space at Rey Hill. I am sure you will utilise all this space very well. We offer you how heartfelt congratulations on this venture and wish you God’s blessing as you continue in the months and years ahead.”

The main address was delivered by Pastor Cecil Richardson of the Central Baptist Church at Rey Hill. “I believe that Brenda’s heart is rejoicing over this new spacious facility,” he stated. “I remember when she told me one day about the possibility of this new place and said “good news – thank God.”

He told the senior citizens: “We thank God for you and for the example you have been to us – the younger folk. We care about you and are excited about this beautiful place you are now in and we are happy that you can enjoy it.”

Tender Loving Care Home

The facility was blessed by Assistant Priest in the Anglican Church, Reverend Menes Hodge. He took the opportunity to commend Ms Hodge for her dedication and service to the elderly folk of Anguilla and offered his best wishes to her and other members of staff.

Others who participated in the service were Pastor John Gumbs of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, who said the opening prayers; Pastor Winston Ryan and Heart Beat Radio personality, Iwandai Gumbs, who both delivered Scripture readings.

In her reply, Brenda Hodge said that Tender Loving Care Home was originally set up in 2004 for four inmates but had outgrown its space with many other persons admitted for care. “I am just fronting for God. With his help and the support of my family, staff, well-wishers and other supporters, the home will continue to grow,” she said.

“We all hoped and prayed for a bigger building. Mr. Gumbs came to me one afternoon looking for two beds for himself and his wife. When he realised that Tender Loving Care had no space, he invited me to meet his wife and see his home. He then decided to sell this building to Tender Loving Care. While I seemed to be dragging my feet, Mr. Gumbs kept asking if I had been to the bank yet. One day he said to me: “Brenda, what is taking you so long? Death is my next-door neighbour.”

“So I went to Caribbean Commercial Bank and, thanks to CCB, Tender Loving Care inmates have a spacious, comfortable, private home.”

The home is staffed by seven care providers including Brenda. There are 14 inmates. The youngest is 73 and the oldest is 102 years.

Brenda, the daughter of William and Vera Hodge of George Hill, migrated to the New York in 1982 where she did her nursing studies; worked at NASA Community College and later at Winthrop Community Hospital. She moved to Florida in 1990 and from there she returned to Anguilla in 2000; worked for one year at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and, following that, served for two years at Hughes Medical Centre. She established Tender Loving Care Home in 2004 and derives much pleasure in caring for the elderly.

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