National Hero Sybil Ione McLaughlin will lie in state in the House of Parliament on Thursday, ahead of her official funeral service on Friday.
McLaughlin, 93, passed away on 10 May at her home.
She was one of two national icons the islands lost last week, the other being Arley James Miller, Cayman’s last surviving vestryman, who died on Sunday, 8 May.
A notice posted by Bodden Funeral Service on its official Facebook page announced that McLaughlin will lie in state at Parliament from 9am to 3pm on 19 May.
Her funeral service will be held starting at 1pm the following day at Elmslie Memorial United Church.
A private interment, it said, will take place at South Sound Cemetery at a later date.
McLaughlin was the first clerk and the first Speaker of the House at the Legislative Assembly.
She also received an MBE in 1967 for organising the first Commonwealth Parliamentary Association regional conference held in the Cayman Islands.
She was declared a National Hero in 1996, the second individual to receive that honour, after the late Jim Bodden in 1994.
McLaughlin was the first living person and the first woman to be so honoured by the Cayman Islands government.
All Cayman Islands flags were flown at half-mast last Tuesday through Thursday in commemoration of McLaughlin’s life.
The Cayman Compass has invited members of the community to share how McLaughlin impacted their lives and their memories of the national hero in a special post on its official Facebook page.
Condolence books were opened for members of the community to submit messages to the bereaved family and pay their respects.
The books will be open for signatures through Friday, 20 May, at Government Administration Building, East End Post Office and District Administration on Cayman Brac.
An online form for condolences can be found at https://www.gov.ky/national-heroes/mrs-sybil.
According to the funeral notice, in lieu of flowers donations should be made to the Business and Professional Woman’s Club which will be giving an award in McLaughlin’s name.
Donations can be sent to account number 02101031492.
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