Mourners filled the Church of God Chapel on Walkers Road with prayers, scripture, tributes and songs Saturday for Georgette Vadine Ebanks’ service of thanksgiving, honouring her not just as a Caymanian icon, but a matriarch, family member, friend, churchgoer, civil servant and activist.
Ebanks, known to all as Miss Georgette, was one of the last living signatories of the 1948 petition demanding women’s right to vote in Cayman.
She passed away on 17 Oct., peacefully at her home at the age of 96, surrounded by her three daughters, Anita Ebanks, Ella DaCosta, and Laura Henry.
A woman of faith
“With just the mention of her name, one would naturally associate her as one who enjoyed a long and outstanding career in the postal service. However, she was also known as a spiritual leader, a social activist, and a historian as well,” said Pastor Vernon Webb, who delivered the tribute from the Community of Christ Church.
Ebanks had served as a member of the church in various capacities, such as Sunday school teacher and being part of the social committee.
Webb recalled her as a “very faithful member” and “even as her eyesight grew dim, would often get one of her daughters to transport her to church and only stopped attending with the advent of COVID.”
Those who attended her Sunday school classes “were impacted in a very dynamic and positive way by Sister Georgette,” Webb said, adding, “her legacy will continue to live on in the memories of her church family.”
Larger than life
Ebanks was among the first graduating class of Triple C School in 1947.
“She was a product and true friend of Triple C School,” said Marjorie Ebanks, who delivered the school’s tribute, and who knew her when she worked in the Post Office.
“There was no doubt that she loved Triple C School – all three of her daughters are graduates – again showing the confidence and loyalty she had in the school that had meant so much to her as a young girl.”
Georgette Ebanks’ social activism emerged in 1948 when she, along with her fellow four female graduates, “though still in their teens, emboldened by their education and maturity, along with others challenged the male dominated leadership and the laws of the land to demand the right to vote,” Marjorie Ebanks said.
A 19 Aug. 1948 letter to the Cayman Islands commissioner was directly linked to the passing of the Women’s Suffrage Act in 1958.
Marjorie Ebanks said, “It sent the message that these young, educated, and empowered females would not accept being second-class citizens.”
She described Ms Georgette as “bold, strong, articulate and outspoken but always with respect.”
A ‘phenomenal’ woman
Former politician Tara Rivers spoke during the funeral, and expressed gratitude for Ebanks’ contributions to Cayman’s society, saying she had lived a “long, full and meaningful” life.
“She was a phenomenal woman,” Rivers said. “She epitomised what it means to live a life of faith, love, sacrifice and grace. Ms Georgette was a woman of strong convictions, and she wasn’t afraid to stand up and speak up for what she believed in.”
Rivers, who commissioned the production of the 2015 documentary on the women’s suffrage movement in the Cayman Islands, said she did so “with today in mind”.
Ebanks, who had been recognised with numerous accolades and awards as one of the country’s early suffragettes, was one of the interviewees in the documentary.
“It was inevitable that one day we would no longer be able to hear directly from Ms Georgette on the matters that she felt passionate about. So it was imperative to capture an important part of her story, in her own words and voice, while she was alive and well to tell it,” Rivers said.
Rivers said Ebanks was “a national treasure” and “would always be remembered as such”.
A matriarch
Her daughters shared a collective message and memories about their mother.
“Our wonderful mother dedicated her life to being ever so loving, nurturing, patient, giving and supportive, always putting our needs before her own, which made a huge difference in our lives, moulding us into who we are today. She was one of the strongest women ever and we were extremely blessed to have her as our matriarch,” they said.
Stories of her “quiet strength, courage and dignity will continue to provide a role model for future generations of our family. [She was] a woman of strong faith and instilled the importance of God, prayer, sisterhood, hardwork and always doing what was right”.
The daughters, in their tribute, promised their mother that following her passing, “we would continue to remain close as sisters and supportive of one another”.
Dearest sister
Ebanks’ brother, George Booth Hurlston, shared with affection his memories of his “dearest sister”.
“Every afternoon, you gave me a bath and dressed me and carried me around the neighbourhood,” he said.
“I recall one particular evening you were crossing cousin Valida’s house with me on your hip and she said, ‘Why don’t you let Booth walk as he is too big for you to carry? To which you replied that I might hurt my little feet. That’s how much you cared for your little brother.”
He added, “I got a call from your daughters that you were getting sicker, and you were leaving us. Your daughter put the phone by your ear and I spoke my last words and I sang my last song for you, which was ‘I Come to the Garden Alone’.”
The service also included a tribute from grandchildren and great granddaughter, and a video that encompassed many highlights of Ebanks’ early years of life, family, church and community life.
Cayman’s most iconic women
Former politician and family friend Gilbert McLean delivered the life story of Ebanks.
He recalled she had a “kind way about her”, and described her as “matriarch, nationalist and someone that a lot of people could copy her life and attitude and be a good citizen in these Cayman Islands”.
“She wasn’t afraid to call the radio stations,” he added, “and would lay down a lesson as to what she thought about which government was doing wrong. She was… is one of Cayman’s most iconic women,” McLean said.
The service was completed with a sermon by Pastor Alson Ebanks and the closing hymn, ‘It is Well With My Soul’.
Programme covers showed Ebanks, with a slight smile, sunglasses perched on her nose and an embroidered hat. Large bouquets of pink, blue and white flowers flanked her casket.
The service was attended by family, church members, ministry officials, community leaders, and many others.
Georgette Ebanks was laid to rest at the South Sound Community cemetery.
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