Cayman Islands National Hero Francine Jackson dies at 97

Francine Jackson, a national hero of the Cayman Islands and a pioneering advocate for women’s rights who helped secure women’s voting and political rights, has died at age 97.

Jackson passed away suddenly on Sunday, July 5, her daughter Joy Basdeo confirmed. Although Jackson had a heart condition, Basdeo said her mother remained active until her final days.

“It was sudden, but because of her age and she did have a heart condition, it wasn’t unexpected, but she was such an active person,” Basdeo told the Cayman Compass. “She hadn’t complained of anything.”

Premier André Ebanks led tributes to Jackson, describing her as a dedicated public servant whose contributions transformed the Cayman Islands. He directed that Cayman Islands flags on public buildings be flown at half-staff for three days in her honor.

“Today our country is in mourning,” Ebanks said in a statement. “Our only living National Hero, the Honourable, dearly cherished, Mrs. Francine Jackson has passed.”

Jackson was designated a national hero in 2025 in recognition of her decades of community service and her role as an early campaigner for women’s political participation.

In the 1950s, Jackson fought for women’s right to vote and to run for elected office. In 1948, she joined a group of women from George Town who submitted a petition seeking voting rights for women, but the request was rejected.

Nearly a decade later, in 1957, Jackson and three women from Bodden Town submitted another petition calling for women to have the right to vote and stand for election. That effort was successful, paving the way for women to participate fully in the political process.

Jackson voted for the first time in the 1959 election and later ran for office alongside other female candidates known as the “Phenomenal Four.” The group included Birdell Jackson, Ethel Cook-Bodden, and Laurel Watler. Although they were unsuccessful at the polls, their campaign marked a historic moment in Cayman Islands politics.

Beyond her advocacy work, Jackson made significant contributions to family and community life. She became the Cayman Islands’ first civil registrar of marriages and later founded Cayman Weddings in West Bay in the 1980s.

Together with her husband, Vernon Jackson, who died about a decade ago, she performed nearly 8,000 wedding ceremonies over the course of their careers.

Jackson was also deeply involved in her faith community, serving as church mother at John Gray Memorial Church, where she provided guidance and counselling to couples.

Her community service extended beyond ceremonies and advocacy. After Hurricane Ivan devastated the Cayman Islands in 2004, Jackson helped provide hot meals to families affected by the storm.

Premier André Ebanks said Jackson remained active and engaged in community affairs well into her later years, particularly in West Bay, where she was known for attending Bible study, community events, and following public affairs closely.

“Her life and legacy have touched countless families, strengthened our communities, and left a mark that will endure for generations to come,” Ebanks said.

Jackson and her husband were married for 65 years and had three children: Joy Basdeo, Jennifer Dilbert, and André Jackson.

As a national hero, Jackson will receive an official funeral. Details of the arrangements and a period of mourning will be announced later by the Cayman Islands government.