Most children of today won’t remember black and white television, or the countless black and white photographs in the homes of thousands of once young Bermudians who passed through the Jackson School of Performing Arts.

Long before cultural arts were popular among the masses, there was once a schoolteacher who hailed from Philadelphia, who was recruited to teach physical education and dance at the Berkeley Institute.

It was the beginning of a career that would span decades and impact the lives of thousands of young artistic enthusiasts since 1953.

To this day, the school still stands in its original location on Burnaby Street.

As the school’s founder, Ms Jackson will be fondly remembers as a trail blazer way before her time in Bermuda’s cultural arts community. A record of firsts will be her legacy.

The school changed hands after 46 years of operation as the largest and longest established dance school in Bermuda’s history.

Jeanne Legere and her husband Robert became principal shareholders with Ms Jackson and her husband, the late Senate President Albert Jackson.

Over the years, the Jackson School of Performing Arts introduced thousands of young Bermudians from all walks of life to the arts.

The school was established by Ms Jackson to “enable children of all races and backgrounds the opportunity to dance”.

When the school changed hands in the year 2000, Mrs Jackson said: “We had an ‘outreach programme’ where we visited all the schools providing lessons for $1.50 and if they didn’t have the money we let them dance anyway.”

She noted then that the teachers at the school were trained in countries all over the world including the UK, the US, Canada and France.

Those teachers included Barbara Frith, Renee Lambert, Stephanie Luke-Decosta, Conchita Ming, Heather Shrubb, Jennifer Soares, Julie Downy, Kim Siese and Ruth Thomas.

The school was expanded by Ms Jackson in 1978 to include instrumental and vocal music, gymnastics and theatre.

In a tearful account on hearing of her passing Ms Frith said: “It’s very disturbing to hear of her death. Ms Jackson was 83 but she was still too young to go.

“I don’t think we ever expected this. She was a trailblazer, she loved Bermuda, she loved the arts, she loved history, and she was a wonderful person to talk to, she had a sense of humour. She was a very, very special person and I know I’m not the only one who will say this. I’m in deep shock and I will miss her very dearly.”

Ms Frith, like so many others, participated in preparing students for annual recitals held in June. The school also participated in a number of other events, including the Premier’s Concert, the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda’s performances, and the Bermuda Festival.

Students have also participated in events held in Trinidad for Carifesta, charity organised events and a performance for the Queen during the 1004 royal visit.

As a business partner, Mr Legere said Mrs Jackson was “one of the most honest and generous people” he has ever known.

“Each and every year Ms Jackson provided thousands of dollars in scholarships for young Bermudians to attend and have an opportunity to experience dance and the performing arts,” he said.

Both he and his wife were in an emotional state after hearing of her death.

“We thought she would recover from what we thought was a severe concussion, but obviously it was more extensive than that,” he said. “All I know is that she definitely hit her head very hard, she was very tired and fatigued but we really thought she would recover.

“My wife’s pretty emotional right now, and so am I, we’ve lost a dear partner, and friend. I think Louise and her husband Albert, who passed a few years ago, are two of Bermuda’s best and they’ll both be very sadly missed.”

Ms Jackson will also go down in history as one of the first to research Bermuda’s Gombey heritage from a cultural point of view.

Asked to comment, Gary Phillips, Chairman of the Bermuda National Gallery lamented her passing.

“The magnitude of the loss of Louise Jackson to this community is simply overwhelming.

“Ms Jackson will always be the indisputable champion of the revival of the Bermuda Gombeys from a repressed art form to a position of universal respectability.

“Through Ms Jackson’s research and documentation, UNESCO came to accept the Bermuda Gombey, and in particular its rhythmic musicality, as a unique folkloric dance. She was an inspiration to both me and my wife Patricia as we continued her work.

“Today, the Bermuda National Gallery also mourns the loss of Ms Jackson not only as a champion of the arts but also as a former Chairman, who along with her late husband Senator President Albert Jackson, were honoured a few years ago for their founding influence on the BNG.

“Our sincerest wishes for comfort and peaceful thoughts are sent to her daughters Debbie and Susan.”

Longtime colleague John Barritt echoed his remarks.

“I was totally and utterly devastated to learn of Louise’s passing today. I still am.

“Ms Jackson and I became great buddies as we sat next to one another on the Opposition backbench over the years we served together in the Legislature. She used to love to say that I taught her all that she knew. Nonsense. She knew all that you needed to know about service long before she even met me.”

He described her as a “vibrant lady who was passionate about the things in which she believed, and the cause of seniors was the top of the list”.

“She taught me, and the rest of our colleagues along the way, that you need no lessons to speak your mind and say what needs to be said, frankly, openly and, yes, loudly, to the best of your abilities. We surely can ask nor expect any more than that of anyone.

“While a strong, clear voice for seniors may have been stilled, Louise Jackson leaves behind a legacy which will ensure their cause is never forgotten. “You just mention the name of Louise Jackson and most people in Bermuda will know that you must be talking about seniors as well.

“The other thing she taught us all is that age truly is no barrier. Louise served others, and seniors in particular, right to the end and I believe, no, I know, that she enjoyed doing so.

“I was so pleased when I asked and she agreed to serve with me this past year on the board of trustees for the Bermuda Housing Trust for seniors. On behalf of the Trustees, and staff, and residents, I offer sincere and heartfelt condolences to Louise’s family.

“She will be missed by many but not forgotten. Finally, notwithstanding our differences in years, we became great friends and it is a tribute to her rather than me that she permitted me to treat her as my equal, although I have to also say, and she knew this too, that I loved her like a mother.”

And Leo Mills, Chairman of the National Security and Defence Review Committee appointed in May last year was also saddened by the loss.

“Ms Jackson from the outset of her appointment proved to be a very supportive and enthusiastic member of the committee and was able to bring to the committee’s deliberations.

“Her very wide experience as an entrepreneur, a former teacher, as someone who had a very keen interest in the welfare of seniors and more recently as a parliamentarian.

“She was able to bring to the our deliberations breadth of experience which was very helpful to the committee in addressing the various security issues which came before us for consideration. She also had a tremendous sense of humour something which we all appreciated and she was also able to provide some very helpful and useful insights into a number of the security institutions and organisations which we were having a look at.

“She was a very warm and generous person and certainly her very untimely loss is something which is felt very deeply, not only by myself, but also by the other members of the committee. And we wish to extend to her family our very sincere condolences.”

Kim Swan, former leader of the United Bermuda Party also noted that she had the distinction of serving in the House of Assembly with more than 24 former students.

Those MPs include former Premiers Dame Jennifer Smith, Alex Scott, Dr Ewart Brown and Paula Cox. Others include Patricia Gordon Pamplin, Bob Richards, Lovitta Foggo, Michael Weeks, Dale Butler, Glenn Blakeney, Terry Lister, Dennis Lister, former House Speaker Stanley Lowe, and current Speaker of the House Randolph Horton, Wayne Perinchief, Michael Scott and Patrice Minors.

But the list doesn’t stop there, Ms Jackson also taught Shernette Wolffe, Clerk to the Legislature, and Albert Fox, the Sergeant At Arms. “I started attending the Berkeley Institute in 1965,” said Mr Lister. “She was a stalwart teacher and educator at a time when there were many great teachers and school leaders.

“As an adult I became closer to Ms Jackson through a friendship that I developed with her husband, the late Senate President Albert Jackson during the 1993 to 1998 period.

“I greatly admired and appreciated Senator Jackson but it was clear that she was his support and counsel as he addressed many challenges in his role in the Senate.

“After Sen Jackson retired I was surprised to see Ms Jackson come to the House as a new Parliamentarian. However, her contribution in the House was significant.

“She was fearless in defending the causes that she took on. There were many occasions when Members scorned her comments but this did not deter her from speaking out and seeking solutions for the benefit of those who had sought her help.

“She leaves a political legacy that her daughter, Susan, will find hard to match simply due to the level of hard work, determination and pure love for country that Ms Louise Jackson, OBE, brought to the job every single day.”

Former Premier Alex Scott recalled how Ms Jackson made him read a poem in front of an all-girl audience at the young age of 12.

“To my embarrassment and everlasting chagrin she and Merle Brock Swan Williams had me read a poem while all the girls were on the school field with one skinny-legged boy.

“I was wearing a pair of long pants for the first time. I forgave her for having me stand in front of so many young women to read. But I later realised that she gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to meet so many young women at the same time.”

He noted that it was her love of dance and classes at the Berkeley Institute that led to the establishment of her school. And he will never forget debates with Louise Jackson on Parliament Hill.

“She was tenacious and formidable. She came prepared, researched and she took no prisoners,” said Mr Scott.

“And I can tell you from being both an MP and a former Premier she was a real handful.

“I had debates with my uncle Albert Jackson in the Senate but I would take him any day over having to debate the Honourable Aunt Louise.

“Our entire family is devastated and my heart goes out Deborah and Susan who are wonderful examples of a mother who could multitask.

“She was excellent parent even as she was a career person. She was a loving, faithful wife and businesswoman.”