A voice for the weak, a role model for all, and a person whose very existence made Bermuda a better place, Louise Jackson OBE has been remembered as all this and more.

The Island’s elder stateswoman died yesterday aged 83, leaving a legacy that all agreed would be, remembered always, and difficult to match.

Parliamentarian, educator, defender, Mrs Jackson was mourned by Bermudian’s from all walks of life, from political allies and foes, to those she touched as the pioneering founder of the School of Performing Arts that still bears her name.

The outpouring of grief that greeted news of her death was magnified by the shock of her passing. A head injury sustained on Boxing Day proved more severe than first thought, and she succumbed to her injuries yesterday afternoon, only two days after being honoured by the Queen with the Order of the British Empire, for her years of public service, and work for the Island’s seniors.

Her daughter Susan Jackson, who followed her mother into politics as a Member of Parliament at the last election, said the honour was a fitting tribute to her mother’s long life of community service.

“I know my mother would have wanted to say a special goodbye, but we want to say thank you for all the love and support this community has given her over the years,” she said.

“Receiving that honour is really an expression of the appreciation for the height of her achievements in this community, and we are truly honoured that she was recognised before her passing.”

A relative latecomer to politics, Mrs Jackson had championed the rights of senior citizens during the past two decades in the House of Assembly, first as a member of the now defunct United Bermuda Party, and most recently on the benches with the One Bermuda Alliance.

“This honour is a reflection of the way in which the community has worked with me as a Member of Parliament,” Mrs Jackson said of her OBE last week. “Together we have addressed issues and challenges in the delivery of health services and the care of our seniors.

“The dignity of seniors, in particular, has been my focus and the most important aspect of my political career. It’s a privilege to serve and be awarded The Queen’s honour.”

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Louise Carpenter arrived in Bermuda in the 1950s to teach at The Berkeley Institute in Pembroke, having put aside aspirations of being a professional dancer at the insistence of her father.

She was predeceased by her husband, a veteran politician in his own right, former Senate President Albert Jackson and died just two days after being included in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list having been awarded the Order of the British Empire for her years of public service and work for the Island’s seniors.

An entrepreneur who took the arts to the masses so that every child, no matter their background, ethnicity or economic status could benefit from cultural arts and centre stage performances, particularly in the segregated Bermuda of the 1950s and early 1960s, Mrs Jackson was fondly remembered yesterday by a host of Bermudians.

Tributes were led by George Fergusson and Craig Cannonier, along with a host of politicians including her nephew, Alex Scott, who led the Progressive Labour Party from 2003 — 2007, and Bob Richards, the Minister of Finance.

“It is with profound sense of sadness, shock and loss that we learned of the passing this afternoon of our colleague and friend, Louise Jackson, JP, OBE,” said the premier. “Mrs Jackson was a teacher of children, a defender of the elderly and an entrepreneur who used her love of dance to build the arts across Bermuda.

“She was also a political colleague of singular character and integrity who gave voice to the weak, the infirm and the forgotten.”

A passionate advocate for Bermuda, Mr Cannonier said Ms Jackson’s very existence made Bermuda a better place.

“She was an ally to all who needed fair hearing, and she was fearless in the fight. No one took on the powers-that-be better than Louise Jackson,” he said. “Her passion for justice, fair treatment and truth made her a shining star in the community across many years.

“As her one-time colleague, I can say that Ms Jackson’s example continues to inspire. I will miss her sense of humour, her sense of fun and her fighting spirit. We have lost an amazing woman.

“On behalf of my colleagues, I express our deepest condolences to Ms Jackson’s family ... I know they are proud of her, of the way she lived and what she accomplished. May she rest in peace.”

Louise Jackson founded the Jackson School of Performing Arts in 1953 and was its director until 1999 and she was also a cofounder of the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda.

Mrs Jackson served on the board of governors of the Bank of Bermuda (now HSBC Bermuda), was a trustee of the Bermuda High School for Girls, a member of the programme committee of the Bermuda Festival and chairman of the Bermuda National Gallery.

She also chaired Government boards including the Broadcast Commission and the Bermuda National Library and served on the Telecommunications Commission.

From Government House through the halls of Bermuda’s legislature, the sentiment was the same.

Governor George Fergusson said: “I was deeply shocked to hear that Mrs Jackson was so seriously unwell, followed so quickly by the news of her death.

“In my relatively short time knowing her, I had come like so many others very much to enjoy her company, to heed her wisdom and to appreciate her enormous dedication to the people of Bermuda.

“While her political commitments were clear, she had close friends — and relations — across every divide, reinforced by her teaching background.

“I appreciated her continuing commitment to public service in agreeing last year to join the Security and Defence Review. And I am delighted that before she died Mrs Jackson knew of Her Majesty’s additional recognition of her service in the award of an OBE.”

Michael Dunkley, the Minister of National Security, mourned the loss of not only a colleague, but also a friend.

“I am shocked and deeply saddened by this news. More than a political colleague, Louise was a friend,” he said. “Her commitment to service is the model for all of us in public life. My immediate reaction upon hearing her sudden passing is the immense loss being felt by her family and Bermuda as a whole.

“Louise gave so much of herself in the cause of helping the community’s most vulnerable. On behalf of my family I extend condolences to Jackson family.”

Derrick Burgess, Acting Leader of the PLP, issued condolences on his party’s behalf, which were echoed by Zane Desilva, the Opposition MP and former Minister of Health, who clashed with Mrs Jackson on several occasions in the House.

“I would just say what a shock really because I’ve known Louise long before we got into politics, and I was up her house quite often as a youngster,” said Mr DeSilva.

“We certainly ‘traded blows’ in the House on a regular basis but outside of that there were many times that we sat together although on different sides.

“She is someone I respected and this is a big shock. We’ll miss her. I’ve certainly missed her since she’s been out of the House the past year.

“And I think notwithstanding the fact that we sat on opposite sides of the House I think Louise was genuinely concerned with the seniors in Bermuda in particular and she will be missed.”

The esteem in which her political opponents held her were summed up by Alex Scott, who said he simply would remember her as ‘The Honourable Aunt Louise’.

Mrs Jackson was married to Mr Scott’s uncle, Albert, his mother’s brother, and considered a lifetime family member. He noted that he, like many others, first met her as a teacher at the Berkeley Institute in their high school years.

“The family has been devastated there had been no illness because Louise was full of life,” he said. “She came into my life and has been there since I was a child. She taught me at Berkeley Institute and married my uncle in the 1950s.

“Even during debates across the floor of the House I would refer to her always at ‘the Honourable Aunt Louise’ and then we would have a lively exchange.”

He noted that he also stayed with Ms Jackson’s parents Bill and Luttie Carpenter while attending Temple University in Philadelphia.

He said her parents were “fiercely proud of her and thought the world of her, her accomplishments and her family in Bermuda”.

“She will be sadly missed and somewhere I know Louise is still challenging me from across the floor — we’ll meet again someday.”

Kim Swan, former leader of the United Bermuda Party, issued condolences on behalf of his family and wife Cindy.

“Ms Jackson served admirably in my Shadow Cabinet and was one of the most reliable people any leader could ever ask for.

“She was hard worker, she was committed to an issue that impacted the portfolios she was responsible for which was for the most part focused on the plight of seniors and health. She would sink her teeth in and not let go until she was satisfied,” said Mr Swan.

“She was unrelentless in fighting for, and on behalf of an issue. The legacy left behind by Mrs Jackson, and her husband, will be one that’s difficult to match, but one that certainly should be emulated for their contribution to public service.”

Ms Jackson is survived by her daughters Susan and Deborah, her sister, Betty, brother, Walter, and three grandchildren.