Barbados is mourning the loss of veteran educator and former parliamentarian Sybil Francis Leacock, affectionately known as “Aunt Syb,” who passed away on Saturday morning following a brief illness. She was 97.
In a tribute, Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne described her as “one of the nation’s most outstanding women,” whose life was marked by “service, sacrifice, and quiet excellence.”
Below is the full statement
The Democratic Labour Party, the people of St. Peter, and Barbados as a whole have lost one of the nation’s most outstanding women. Sybil Francis Leacock, affectionately known to generations as “Aunt Syb,” passed away on Saturday morning following a brief illness, leaving behind a legacy of service, sacrifice, and quiet excellence.
For decades, Leacock’s Private School stood as a beacon of hope and opportunity for families across northern Barbados. More than an institution, it was a symbol of entrepreneurial vision, social responsibility, and educational foresight. values that Lady Leacock lived and embodied.
Born on November 8, 1928, and raised by her mother and grandmother, Sybil Leacock was educated at St. Peter’s Girls’ School and later Ms. Archer’s Private School. It was during these formative years that she experienced the care, discipline, and nurturing environment that would later inspire her life’s calling.
What began as a modest, single-room venture known as Philips Private School evolved into a modern, respected institution that rivalled any on the island for quality tuition and academic outcomes.
Generations of former students recall not only Miss Leacock’s exceptional teaching skills, but also her unwavering commitment to values. “manners that maketh man,” moral discipline, honesty of character, and reverence for God.
She insisted on proper dress, rejected the use of profane language, and began each school day with prayer. A firm disciplinarian, yet warm and compassionate,Lady Leacock believed deeply that every child was special. Those whose families could not afford the modest school fees were quietly accommodated, their dignity preserved without distinction or disclosure.
It was also the guiding motto of her school, one she constantly impressed upon her students. that they must “hitch their wagon to a star.” By this, Lady Leacock urged every child to set their ambitions high, to rise above circumstance, and to pursue excellence with discipline, faith, and integrity. It was not a slogan for display, but a lived philosophy. one she exemplified through her own life of steadfast service and moral clarity.
Her devotion to the people of St. Peter naturally extended into public service. In 1968, she was appointed a Justice of the Peace, and in 1975, the Father of the Nation, Errol Walton Barrow, appointed her to the Senate of Barbados. Though unsuccessful in the General Elections of 1976 and 1981, her perseverance was rewarded when she won the 1984 by-election, serving her constituency with distinction. While her parliamentary tenure was brief, her commitment to community service never wavered.
Lady Leacock was deeply involved in the Girl Guides, the Whim Action Group, the Anglican Church, and the Democratic Labour Party, particularly the Women’s League. She was generous and charitable, never seeking recognition for her many acts of kindness. always accompanied by her warm smile and familiar blessing, “God bless.”
In recognition of her exceptional national service, Lady Leacock was awarded the Gold Crown of Merit (1987) and later the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1989.
During a visit on her 96th birthday, the Leader of the Democratic Labour Party remarked on her remarkable vitality, grace, sharp intellect, and charming sense of humour, describing the encounter as “a beautiful morning.”
Today, the people of St. Peter. and indeed all of Barbados. mourn the passing of a true daughter of the soil, whose life enriched every space she entered and every life she touched. Her legacy endures as a shining example of service, humility, charity, kindness, and love.
May she rest in eternal peace, and may her memory continue to inspire generations to always hitch their wagon to a star.
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