On Tuesday, the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda came together to lay to rest one of its most influential female political figures, former Senator Cheryl Mary-Clare Hurst, at an official funeral that drew cross-sector attendees from across the country and highlighted her decades of dedicated public service.
The funeral service, hosted at the SJPC House of Restoration Ministries, brought together a wide range of dignitaries and ordinary citizens alike. Among those in attendance were Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, Prime Minister Gaston Browne, sitting Cabinet ministers, current and former parliamentarians, foreign diplomatic representatives, and scores of Hurst’s family members, friends, and long-time supporters.
Over the course of the commemorative service, speakers walked through Hurst’s extraordinary political career, which included multiple pivotal roles: former senator, Minister of State, Leader of Government Business in the Senate, and a groundbreaking milestone as the first woman to hold the position of General Secretary for the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. Attendees heard repeatedly that Hurst’s impact stretched far beyond the walls of the country’s legislative bodies, touching the daily lives of thousands of ordinary Antiguans and Barbudans.
Personal anecdotes shared by close friends and colleagues painted a vivid picture of Hurst’s well-documented generosity and commitment to standing by loved ones and constituents. One long-time personal friend recalled how Hurst never left her side when her son suffered through a terminal illness, even suspending her official duties mid-Senate sitting to travel to New York for the young man’s funeral.
Beyond her personal kindness, Hurst was widely recognized for her unshakable commitment to lifting up the next generation. “She was relentless in her passion for helping young people,” reflected long-time associate Georges, who also noted that Hurst maintained her characteristic optimism and active engagement with public life even as she battled serious health complications in her later years.
A written tribute from Archdeacon Franklin Reid framed Hurst as a “beloved servant of the people” who consistently used her platform to advocate for justice, greater social equality, and expanded economic opportunity for all Antiguans and Barbudans. Reid’s tribute highlighted her unwavering personal integrity, deep compassion for marginalized communities, and natural ability to make every person she interacted with feel seen and valued.
The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party Choir, which Hurst herself founded, also shared their own tribute to their founding patron. Choir members remembered her as a steady guiding force who often led musical performances at the party’s public events, and remained deeply committed to the organization and its core values throughout her life.
The service itself was woven through with musical performances that reflected Hurst’s lifelong involvement in cultural and community work, including selections from the Antigua Community Players, choral pieces from the Labour Party Choir, traditional steelpan performances, and congregational worship songs.
In his opening remarks to the gathered congregation, the service’s lead church leader described Hurst as a woman who built her entire life around service to others, noting that her many contributions to national development would remain permanently etched in Antigua and Barbuda’s collective memory. He reminded attendees that the occasion was as much a celebration of a life that touched countless people as it was a moment of national mourning.
Across all tributes, Hurst was consistently remembered as a trailblazing champion for youth development, women’s political empowerment, local community service, and national progress. Speakers closed by urging the many young people Hurst mentored over her career to carry forward the critical work she started.