Jamaica News, January 21, 2018
St Catherine, Jamaica ( Mckoy’s News) – Enid Bennett’s Funeral: Enid Maude Bennett, the late former State Minister, who served as Member of Parliament for 30 years until her retirement in 1997, was laid to rest on Saturday, January 20. At a funeral service, many celebrated Ms. Enid Bennet as a true champion of the people, who dedicated her life to the service of others.
The nation’s leaders turned out at the St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Linstead, where the Official Funeral Service was held for the late Ms. Enid Maude Bennett; to pay tribute to Jamaica’s first female legislator in the House of Representatives.
Enid Bennett’s Funeral: Many government leaders including the prime minister Andrew Holness eulogised Ms. Bennett.
“She was caring, filled with good counsel. Personally, I would have benefitted from her counsel in difficult times and I am certain many in this church could attest to that,” said the PM.
Dr. Christopher Tufton described Ms. Bennett as “most beautiful, peaceful and hardworking”. He remained that Ms. Bennett was instrumental in securing funds to build schools such as Tacius Golding and Bog Walk High and Lucky Valley Primary.
Other government ministers took turns to hail Ms. Bennett as, “stern, sweet, tender, shattering the proverbial glass ceiling, a noble lady, beautiful inside as she was outside, a quiet giant and someone not easily dispatched in the face of formidable challenges.”
In her eulogy, former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller said she had great admiration for the dignity and fortitude of Ms. Bennett, who she noted was a “voice of the voiceless.”
in 2012 Enid Bennett was awarded the country’s fourth-highest honour, the Order of Jamaica.
Ms. Bennett died at age 86 on December 22, 2017, after suffering a brief illness.
Photo: Rudranath Fraser (JIS): Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), looks on as the casket bearing the body of the late former Minister of State and Member of Parliament for West Central St. Catherine, Enid Maude Bennett is carried into the St. Helen’s Catholic Church by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). The Official Funeral Service held at the church in Linstead, St. Catherine on January 20.