She was born Jane Ellen Mary Price, but she is known across Belize District as Jane Usher. Today, the founder of the credit union movement and former minister of government as well as mother of twelve children celebrates a milestone and well wishes have been pouring in to mark her one hundredth birthday. Bright and early, the centenarian headed to work at the Holy Redeemer Credit Union as she does on her daily routine. We felt the warmth of those around her and experienced the wisdom of her years. News Five's Duane Moody reports.

'Miss Jane' Marks 100 Years

She was born Jane Ellen Mary Price, but she is known across Belize District as Jane Usher. Today, the founder of the credit union movement and former minister of government as well as mother of twelve children celebrates a milestone and well wishes have been pouring in to mark her one hundredth birthday. Bright and early, the centenarian headed to work at the Holy Redeemer Credit Union as she does on her daily routine. We felt the warmth of those around her and experienced the wisdom of her years. News Five's Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Centenarian Jane Usher is no stranger to Belize City residents, but today the family and staff over at the Holy Redeemer Credit Union celebrated the one hundredth birthday of Ma Jane, known for being the backbone of the institution and the founder of the credit union movement in the country. According to Usher, she was born at home during a parade around three o'clock on September fifth, 1917 that.

Jane Usher, Centenarian

"I born three o'clock; weh time now? Half past ten, I neva born yet. I noh know where I was though, but I neva born."

Duane Moody

"You were saying earlier that there was a parade?"

Jane Usher

"Oh a big parade, the Lodge was passing. The Lodge from�Lodge Fellows right out there was passing Pickstock Street and my mama mi want go see the parade and the doctor tell ahn better stay ina ih bed."

Stories like these and the wittiness of Ma Jane that have her staff overwhelmed about this milestone she has reached in life. They shared their experiences over the years with the centenarian.

Darren Leal, Finance Officer, HRCU

"From since I started worked as a part of the HRCU family, Miss Jane has truly been an inspiration to me as I know she has been to many of us. To see Miss Jane reach a hundred years old and still going, I must say it is one of the greatest milestones I've ever witness."

Nigel Alvarado, Loans Officer, HRCU

"I've known Miss Jane for the past five years going on to six and I've never one day had a disappointment working here. She greets me every morning I go in her office; I always give her a kiss on her cheeks. She is a very lovely lady. Any person that is around her will always leave and say Miss Jane is one of a kind."

Luanne Daniels, Internal Auditor

"Miss Jane is full of life; she is truly an inspiration to everybody. She is the first face that we see in the morning; your morning doesn't start until you tell her good morning and you see her."

Atindra Arthurs, Customer Service Representative, HRCU

"Miss Jane has always been one of the first persons in the office and the last to leave and she always has a smile on her face. She always has some stories to tell and always keeps you smiling."

Minelie Erskine, Head teller, HRCU

"She's a very loving person, a very wise person. Miss Jane takes you back in history; she has a great sense of humor so whenever you come she takes you back in history with a lot of humor."

While the staff acknowledged her birthday today, Ma Jane was in her office at the HRCU building on Hyde's Lane doing her general manager duties. She expects a party from her children over the weekend.

Jane Usher

"I haven't done anything good - only work and work. I have my diary and I have things to check and see if they didn't make mistakes yesterday. I don't know how I will correct it today, but I have to do all of that, one by one."

Duane Moody

"So no celebrations?"

Jane Usher

"No celebration, but I understand they are having a celebration on Sunday; dah soh I hear. But I am not going to no kitchen to cook nothing. Dehn better understand that. If it is going to be a celebration, I will celebrate too."

But what's the secret to longevity? Here's what Ma Jane had to say.

Jane Usher

"I woulda want tell yo fi true�tell lotta lie (chuckles). No I think it is you have something in you�I call it determination. You make up your mind and mind is master; there is nothing stronger than your mind right in here right now."

Channel 5

Miss Jane celebrates 100th birthday

Dr. Jane Ellen Usher (nationally and affectionately known as Miss Jane), the longest running Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the country, and the Caribbean, today celebrated her 100th birthday.

Miss Jane, who lives on the Philip Goldson Highway, has been CEO of the Holy Redeemer Credit Union (HRCU), the largest and most asset-rich credit union in the country - with assets of over $501.2 million dollars and a record 50,564 members - since 1956.

True to her spirit, Miss Jane spent her birthday at work at HRCU, on Hydes Lane, where she initially worked as a clerk when she joined the organization in 1944.

On her birthday, she said she feels truly blessed to have reached this milestone of 100 years. She loves to go to her workplace, where she gets the opportunity to talk to staff members and of course, the member-owners of HRCU. She says she is humbled to be at the forefront as CEO of the largest credit union in Belize, which is also among the largest in the Caribbean region.

Miss Jane, the wife of (the late) Henry "Eagles" Usher, a famous sportsman and credit union pioneer of his time, said that the job of CEO can be stressful at times, but she has "very good people" whom she can depend on to get the work done. She wants to assure the public that when she can no longer perform the functions of CEO at HRCU, there are well-qualified persons at HRCU who will be able to take up the challenge.


The best advice she can give to people is to always think positive; and to avoid being around people who are negative-thinking and prophets of doom and gloom.

Miss Jane said that she is a reader of Amandala and she is thankful to the Almighty for allowing her to continue "serving her people" at age 100 (and 2 days).

Over the years, Miss Jane helped manage and expand the credit union - which had an initial share capital of 75 cents, from three members who invested 25 cents each, that increased over the years to over half a billion dollars today.

On 15 June, 1956, she was appointed general manager and was elected to the position of secretary/treasurer. She was later appointed CEO of HRCU that same year.

In 2001, Miss Jane was honored with the Golden Eagle Award from the Belize Credit Union League for outstanding service to the credit union movement. That same year she was also honored by the Belize Business Bureau for her contributions to women's development in business.

Miss Jane also served her country as a political leader. She served as a PUP Cabinet Minister of Health and Cooperatives from 1979 to 1984 under the PUP. From 1984 to 1989, she served as a member of the Opposition in the House of Representatives.

Then, between September 15, 1989 and June 1, 1993, she served as the president of the Senate. Miss Jane became Director Emeritus of the Holy Redeemer Credit Union in 2012.

In 2013, Miss Jane was awarded an honorary doctorate from Galen University for her long service to citizens of Belize.

In recognition of her many accomplishments and contributions, her life-long contributions to economic empowerment and dedicated public service, the United States Embassy Belize declared Dr. Jane Usher as the 2017 Woman of the Year. The announcement was made today on her birthday.

Miss Jane was one of eleven children, including Samuel William Price, John Cecil Price, Anna Cecilia Price, George Cadle Price (former Prime Minister of Belize), Lydia Mary Waight, Alice Margaret Craig, Josephine Delia Balderamos, Irene Elizabeth Canton, Katharine Louise Price and Judy Sybil Price.

Amandala