Former legislator Esther Ebanks will lie in state at the Legislative Assembly on Friday.
According to the Government Information Services, Leola Esterleen Ebanks, who passed away on 23 April at the age of 74, will be given an official funeral because of her public service to the Cayman Islands.
This will be the third time in Cayman’s history that the honour of lying in state at the parliament building has been accorded. The first was in 2013 for former Speaker of House Edna Moyle, and the second in 2019 for former legislator John McLean Sr.
Cayman flags at the Government Administration Building and other government buildings will be flown at half-mast on Thursday and Friday this week as a mark of respect for Ebanks, who served in the Legislative Assembly from 1976 to 1980 as a representative for the district of West Bay.
It was her lone term as an MLA, but she was no stranger to the Legislative Assembly or political life, as she was married to local boxing icon and former legislator Dunstan Dalmain Ebanks.
Deputy Speaker of the House and George Town South MLA Barbara Conolly explained that when a former legislator passes, an invitation is extended to their family to have the body lie in state, and the Ebanks family accepted the invitation.
Conolly recounted some of her memories of Ebanks.
“I recall visiting Ms. Esther’s clothing store and had so many great conversations with this great lady, which could range from the latest fashions to the topical political issues of the day. I also admired her sense of fashion, always immaculately dressed, with elegant hats to match every outfit,” she said.
Ebanks was the third woman to be elected to the Legislative Assembly.
Conolly said Ebanks had “immense love and affection” for Cayman and its people.
“She was a staunch supporter of the People’s Progressive Movement (The Progressives) and I recall her participating over the years in many political campaigns,” she added.
Funeral arrangements
According to GIS, due to current restrictions in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community, Ebanks’ funeral service “will be a streamlined version of the standard official funeral, in order that social distancing rules can be maintained at all times. A more substantial memorial service will be held at a later date.”
The pared-back service of thanksgiving will follow a period of lying-in state at the Legislative Assembly on Friday, during which family members and legislators and invited guests will maintain six feet of distance from one another.
“Members of the public will not be able to attend the lying-in-state in person, due to the shelter-in-place provisions, but will be able to follow proceedings live on CIG TV and YouTube,” the statement added.
The motor procession, led by the hearse, will wind its way through West Bay on Friday afternoon, to mark Ebanks’ time serving as the district’s representative. Coverage will be carried live on Radio Cayman.
After leaving the Legislative Assembly around noon, the motorcade will travel to West Bay and drive through Northwest Point Road, Boatswains Bay Road, Hell Road to the Town Hall, Stadium Drive, Birch Tree Hill Road, Spanish Bay Road, Capt. Reginald Parson Drive, Mount Pleasant Road and Willie Farrington Road, before heading back to George Town along West Bay Road.
“Persons who live along the route are encouraged to stand in their doorways or yards to wave, but should be mindful of maintaining social distancing protocols,” GIS said.
Ebanks’ funeral service will be held at 1pm at the Church of God Chapel George Town on Academy Way on Saturday, 9 May, with the interment to follow at the Garden of Eden Cemetery on Pedro Castle Road. The service will be attended by immediate family only.
Shelter-in-place regulations stipulate that only 10 family members, seven pallbearers, one member of the clergy, and the staff of the funeral home can physically attend funeral and burial services.
The funeral service will be aired live on CIG TV YouTube; and the full farewell proceedings will be available on CIG TV from next week.
Tributes were paid to Ebanks during the most recent sitting of the House on Thursday, 23 April.
Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose said on Wednesday that Ebanks embodied the very essence of public service.
“She worked assiduously to serve her constituents in West Bay, as their very first female legislator,” he said. “Her many contributions in both public and private life made a profound impact across the wider Caymanian community. I invite members of the public to join us on CIG TV to honour the life of a deeply respected member of our community,” he said.
Members of the public can pay their respects by signing an official book of condolence via http://boddenfuneralservices.com/condolences.php.
Ebanks leaves behind eight siblings, seven children, 15 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and other relatives to mourn.
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