Shop owner who worked at West Indian community hub into her 80s dies at 105

A shop owner who continued to help out at the store into her 80s as it became a community hub – and did her own cooking well after passing her century – has died at the age of 105.

Agnes Louise Smith, pictured, passed away at the Tower Bridge Care Home in March, months after a big joint birthday celebration with Levi Usiah Hamilton, a relatively young 102, at Stockwell Good Neighbours, next to The Oval cricket ground.

The High Commissioner of Jamaica, Asif Ahmad, and the Lambeth Mayor were both at the party, and honoured the pair for their contribution to society and congratulated them on their long, fruitful lives.

Agnes Louise Smith, also known as Mcken, was born on October 14, 1914 to parents Henrietta and Joseph Smith in Adams Valley, Manchester, Jamaica.

She was the second youngest of 18 children – her younger brother Willoughby is still living in Jamaica aged 103.

She grew up in her early years in Kingston and had a shop where she sold cooked food and other produce.

She had no children of her own but cared for her two nephews, Herbert and Johnathan, until she decided to emigrate to London in 1957, arriving by plane at the age of 43.

She already had some family members in England – her nieces Linda and Myrtle and her nephew George Anderson senior.

She eventually worked as a caterer for the National Health Service until she retired.

She decided to join forces with Hugo Johnson, and together they set up a community shop selling groceries and West Indian produce.

They later moved to larger premises to create a grocery store incorporating a restaurant, bakery and takeaway food – it also served as a community hub for Peckham.

Agnes continued to participate in the business into her 80s.

She legally became a British citizen on April 1, 1987.

She attended church regularly at Rye Lane plus the Oval West Indian social club and St John’s the Divine social club.

Her nephew Junior said: “Agnes continued to do her own shopping, cooking, cleaning and travelling to the ripe old age of 104, which we all found remarkable.”

Home assistance by the way of carers was arranged to assist her in her latter years at home.

But because of a number of falls, she ended up in hospital and she needed 24-hour care.

She was transferred from the hospital to Tower Bridge Care Home on January 9, where she could receive the care and attention she needed until she passed away on March 23.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, she couldn’t wear the dress she had kept ready for years for her coffin – and the funeral was only attended by her nephew and his wife.

Junior added: “In my opinion I still believe she would have been here today if it wasn’t for the coronavirus.

“It was not the send-off that my aunt wished for or the one that she deserved.

“Unfortunately due to the world pandemic and the government regulations at the moment we could not do so.

“I would just like all family and friends to know that I was with her on that final day, and although she was unconscious I believe she knew I was there.

“I told her that all family members and friends were thinking of her and gave thanks for her life. God bless Aunt Agnes and may she rest in peace.”