Originally from Liverpool, Carrie recently moved in to Ryan Hall, a long-term care facility in Bridgewater. It was here she was thrown her big birthday bash. “Happy Birthday!” streamers and balloons lined the lobby where other residents had already gathered and taken their seats. Music from an accordion player filled the building as everyone patiently waited for the guest of honour to arrive.
Still walking, even at the ripe old age of one century, Carrie made her way down the hall with her walker. Applause and cheering broke out as she entered the room, accompanied by her grandson Randy Whynot.
As the two took a seat on a couch, Carrie was serenaded with some of her favourite songs, as well as a wholehearted happy birthday tune from the entire room. When she blew out the candles on her birthday cake, more applause broke out.
Although Carrie says when you get up to her age you don’t like to go out much, she did enjoy her birthday festivities.
“I had a great time today,” she says with a smile. “I have a great time up here.”
Carrie grew up in Port Mouton with a big family of 10 brothers and one sister. There were hardly any houses lining the roads, and only one or two cars.
"When she used to visit Liverpool, she traveled by horse and wagon," says Randy. She would take a very different Old Port Mouton road to town.
To get from Port Mouton to Liverpool, "it was an hour or an hour and a half at least," says Carrie. "You put 100 years on your life and look back and see what happens. I'll tell you, it's a big change."
Carrie moved to Liverpool after she met her husband, and had four children. Because there was no hospital at the time, all her children were born at home with the help of a midwife.
After the death of her husband in 1975, Carrie lived independently in her home from when she was 64 until only a couple of years ago. Although she is the last remaining sibling and has only one remaining son, Carrie is still surrounded by a large family.
“There are all kinds of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren,” says Annette, Randy’s wife. “Her great-great grandson Kayden just adores her.”
Carrie loves coffee in the morning, and usually at night as well. She loves chocolate, and never drank milk other than in her coffee. She never cared much for fruit, but she does love Pepsi and drinks it like it’s going out of style.
Her appetite is still hearty, and "she just about eats anything," laughs Randy.
Both Randy and Annette agree Carrie has always been a "wonderful cook."
“We used to go her place for supper all the time when we first got married, she was always cooking up good food,” says Annette. “Fish, scallops, oh my gosh, best cook ever.”
Carrie had several jobs as a cook at different places throughout her life, including Lane's Privateer Inn and White Point Beach Resort.
“They got mad at me at White Point one year because I didn't come back one summer,” smiles Carrie. “They just thought I was planted there or something. They didn't find out if I was going to come back or not, they just put me down.”
“It was because they missed her,” adds Randy laughing.
Something else Carrie is well known for is her green thumb. Annette says Carrie can grow anything, and had a flower-filled yard at her home in Liverpool.
“She can make anything grow and keep it alive unlike anyone I know,” says Annette. “When it comes to plants she really knows how to take care of them. She loves plants and flowers.”
“On my window sill here I have a plant,” adds Carrie. “They need a lot of attention. If you give them too much water it’ll die, if you don’t give it enough it’ll die.”
Despite being ten decades old Carrie’s memory is still sharp as ever. Annette says even the Ryan Hall staff say she is the smart one.
“She’s in good health, hardly has anything wrong with her. No high blood pressure, no heart troubles, still mobile, still happy,” says Annette. “Everybody loves Nanny Whynot.”
“I’ve got no problems at all,” smiles Carrie.
Unfortunately for those looking for the key to living to 100, Carrie has no answer other than “it aint up to us.”
