Cheryl Mary Clare Hurst

Cheryl Mary Clare Hurst, born on November 6, 1962, left us far too soon on May 5, 2026, but her legacy as a devoted mother, grandmother, and trailblazing leader will forever echo in the hearts of those who knew her. Cheryl had a laugh that could light up a room—a warm, hearty sound that accompanied her no-nonsense approach to life. She was the kind of person who’d call you out for not eating enough at Sunday dinner, then slip you an extra piece of her famous coconut bread when no one was looking. Her home was always open, her table always full, and her advice always honest, served with a side of love. As Antigua and Barbuda’s first female General Secretary of the Labour Party and a dedicated senator from 2014 until her passing, Cheryl poured her heart into her work. She believed fiercely in justice and equity, often saying, “Politics isn’t about power—it’s about people.” You could see that in how she championed education and healthcare, how she stayed late at community meetings, and how she mentored young women, urging them to “own their voices.” Her colleagues remember her as a force of nature, the one who could debate policy with razor-sharp wit and then pivot to sharing stories about her grandchildren’s latest adventures. Cheryl’s passions extended beyond politics. She was a voracious reader, devouring everything from Caribbean literature to mystery novels, and she never missed a chance to dance—whether at a family gathering or during her weekly Zumba class with friends. Her garden was her sanctuary, where she’d spend hours tending to her roses, humming hymns or old calypso tunes. She found joy in simple things: the smell of rain