Antigua and Barbuda said its final farewell to one of its most devoted public servants on Tuesday, as an official funeral service brought together the nation's highest officeholders, port authority staff, party faithful, family, and ordinary citizens to celebrate the life of Senator Cheryl Mary-Clare Hurst — a woman who, by every account, lived entirely for others.
The service was held at SJPC House of Restoration Ministries and was attended by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats and members of the public. It was a gathering befitting a woman whose influence touched every corner of Antiguan public life.
A Life Measured Not in Titles, But in Impact
Throughout the ceremony, speakers reflected on Hurst's impact as a former senator, Minister of State, Leader of Government Business in the Senate, and the first female General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.
The eulogy, delivered by Dr Oswald Thomas, drew on a bond that stretched back decades. Dr Thomas recalled a relationship with Senator Hurst that began when the two were teenagers in the Labour Party youth movement and grew into something he described as brother and sister — not by blood, but by choice. He recounted their years studying in New York, where they both worked at the Antigua and Barbuda Mission to the United Nations and launched a newsletter distributed to more than 5,000 Antiguans and Barbudans — an effort, long before social media, to keep the diaspora connected to developments back home.
"She never measured success by the offices she could occupy," Dr Thomas said. "She measured success by the impact she could make."
His closing words captured the true scale of her legacy. "Today, throughout Antigua and Barbuda and beyond, there are countless doors that remain open because Mary Clare Hurst walked through them first," he said.
A Sacrifice for Another's Advancement
Dr Thomas also recalled that Hurst once declined an opportunity that could have made her the first woman elected to Parliament, choosing instead to support the political advancement of Gaston Browne. Speakers said she remained steadfast in her loyalty to the Labour Party throughout her life and repeatedly rejected opportunities to join other political movements.
"She Took My Call — Every Single Time"
Gregory Georges, Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Oil Company, reflected on the professionalism Hurst brought to her role as Chairwoman of the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority. He recalled reaching out to her on several occasions to resolve significant impasses between WIOC and the port and described her as someone who always responded and always brought genuine interest to finding solutions.
"Whenever I reached out to her, she took my call, every single time, and she displayed a keen interest in resolving whatever the issue was," Georges said. "She was reliable."
Georges said he was confident that despite her fiduciary responsibility to the port, Senator Hurst kept the national interest of Antigua and Barbuda at the centre of her decision-making, describing her as calm, collected, and insightful, with an instinct for knowing when to intervene and when to step back.
He also recalled her persistent advocacy for young people, noting that she would regularly contact him requesting opportunities for youth in the society. "She was relentless in her passion for helping young people, and diligent and persistent in following up and advocating for them," Georges said.
A Voice for Justice and Equality
Archdeacon Franklin Reed, a friend of the Antiguan and Barbudan diaspora in New York City, submitted a written tribute read at the service by the late senator's brother, Ambassador Sir Lionel Hurst. Archdeacon Reed described Senator Hurst as a government leader who exemplified integrity, compassion, and selflessness, whose voice resonated in the halls of power advocating for justice, equality, and opportunity.
"She loved Antigua and Barbuda. She loved Antiguans and Barbudans. And she loved the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party," Archdeacon Reed wrote.
A Friend Who Never Left Your Side
Friends and colleagues also spoke of Hurst's deep personal devotion to those around her. One longtime friend recounted how Hurst remained at her side during the illness and eventual death of her son, even leaving a Senate sitting to attend the funeral in New York.
The service featured musical selections from the Antigua Community Players, the Labour Party Choir, steelpan performances and worship songs, reflecting Hurst's longstanding involvement in culture and community activities. The Labour Party Choir, which Hurst herself helped to establish, also paid tribute to her guiding presence and enduring commitment to the party's principles.
Senator Cheryl Mary-Clare Hurst leaves behind a nation that is undeniably better for her presence in it — and a generation of leaders, young people, and ordinary citizens whose lives were quietly, permanently shaped by a woman who walked through every door not for herself, but so that others might follow.
