Mr Rhymer is the grandfather of Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) and Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Sharie B. deCastro (AL).

The former farmer, sailor, road warden and boat racer, was married to the late Josephine Rhymer and up to the time of Mrs Rhymer’s passing the two were regarded as the oldest couple alive in the Virgin Islands and the longest married.

They were married for approximately 76 years, having tied the knot on September 25, 1940 at Road Town Methodist Church.

'I feeling good'

Not only is Mr Rhymer blessed with long life but a sound mind well into his 5 score and 3 as, according to one of his daughters, Shirley Rhymer, the birthday centenarian is quite aware today is his birthday and age and commented that he was thankful to God for another year.

“We asked him his age and he said 103. I asked him how he was feeling and he said ‘I feeling good and thank God for life,’” Ms Shirley Rhymer told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO).

She said Mr Rhymer would spend the day with visits from family and friends.