Buxton bids farewell to 112-year-old matriarch – one of Guyana’s oldest citizens

Just 22 days short of her 113th birthday, Buxton lost one of its most treasured matriarchs – Ms Evadney Talbot, a seamstress, community pillar, and centenarian who lived through eras of change while never abandoning the roots that made her who she was.

She passed away on April 18, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, wisdom, and service that continues to ripple through the village of Buxton and beyond. Her birthday would have been celebrated on May 10.
Her great-grandson, journalist Jarryl Bryan, shared fond memories and reflections on a life so deeply interwoven with the fabric of her community.
“Actually, she was my great-grandmother,” he shared. “She was born in Buxton and lived there all her life. She was a seamstress; the glue that held my family together – the matriarch, if you want to call it that.”
Talbot had five children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was well-known throughout Buxton and regarded as part of the village’s golden age – “the last of an era,” as Bryan puts it.
When asked about how the community responded to her passing, Bryan described a sense of loss that went beyond family.
“Not just her own, it was a very social level of contribution she made. She was very community-oriented, very active socially, and her death definitely left a void.”
He noted that despite not having a specific ‘recipe’ for her longevity, there were certainly habits that helped her live such a full life.
“I remember her as somebody who ate healthy and cooked her own food. She and her husband had their own farm in the Buxton backlands,” he recalled. “She took walks and was very active, even up to her 90s.”
Her educational journey began at Buxton Congregational School. And her community involvement extended to several local institutions.
“She was part of the St Augustus Anglican Church – that’s actually where the funeral was held – and she was a big part of the Golden Age social club that takes care of the elderly in the village.”
Bryan reflected on the emotional weight of losing someone who was so deeply entrenched in his formative years. “I had been visiting her and staying in touch, so I knew she wasn’t doing too well. But when she passed, it was profound sadness. I grew up with her. I remember watching Young and the Restless with her… it felt like closing a chapter in my life,” Bryan stated as his eyes teared up remembering his beloved great grandmother.
Community members also paid tribute, noting her steadfast presence and years of service.
“She was just always there – whether it was in church, in the community or with her family,” Bryan noted. “And being a part of that centenarian club… that’s an achievement in and of itself. Not many people make it that far.”
With the reported death of Lilian Elliott of Mashabo Village, Essequibo Coast, in March of this year, said to be at the age of 115, it is believed that Mrs Talbot at the time of her passing on April 18, was the oldest living Guyanese.