The Cayman Islands has said farewell to National Hero Francine Eldona Jackson at her official funeral, following her death on July 5 at the age of 97.

Family members, political leaders and members of the public gathered to pay tribute to a woman remembered for her work in women’s rights, community life, faith and service.

Mrs. Jackson first lay in state at the House of Parliament before the funeral service at Wesleyan Holiness Church in West Bay, Grand Cayman. The day marked her contributions to Caymanian life, from women’s suffrage to years of community leadership, service as a marriage officer and dedication to families across the Islands.

A national farewell

Government representatives, church leaders, relatives and members of the public attended the service which followed Mrs. Jackson’s lying in state at the House of Parliament.

Premier André Ebanks paid tribute to Mrs. Jackson. He said: “Still to her last day she was out and about. She knew within herself she could go on with the Lord because of her bravery, her biblical principles and being busy in the community."

A life tied to political change

Mrs. Jackson’s place in Caymanian history was secured in 1959, when she stood as one of the “Phenomenal Four” alongside Birdell Jackson, Ethel Cook-Bodden and Laurel Watler in the first general election following the extension of voting rights to women. That moment became a reference point in the wider history of women’s political participation in Cayman.

Her advocacy for women’s rights did not begin in 1959. She had campaigned for women’s suffrage years earlier, even after early efforts failed. Mrs Jackson continued to push for change until the vote was won, helping reshape the democratic process and expand representation across the Islands. For many Caymanians, that part of her life remains one of her most important contributions.

Service to families and communities

Beyond politics, Mrs. Jackson spent much of her life strengthening the social fabric of the Cayman Islands. She was one of the longest-serving marriage officers and officiated thousands of weddings. For countless families, she became a trusted face at one of life’s most important moments, helping unite couples and mark the start of new households.

Her work as a marriage officer also brought her into counselling and support roles for couples and families. That service was tied to her Christian faith, which was often cited in tributes to her life and work.

A national hero remembered

In January 2025, Mrs. Jackson was named a National Hero, at the time the only living recipient of the honour. The recognition formally acknowledged her role in advancing women’s rights and her lasting commitment to community leadership and national development. It also gave the country a chance, while she was still alive, to thank her publicly for a lifetime of service.

Her legacy can be seen in the generations of women empowered to lead, the families she helped unite and the communities she served with humility and grace. Those gains will remain part of Caymanian life long after the funeral has passed. As the Islands closed this chapter, they did so with gratitude for a woman whose life helped shape the nation itself.