Left: 2003: A young fan (right) gives Miss Lou a kiss during her recent visit to the island. Right: 2003: Miss Lou accepts a citation from the Government of Jamaica during her most recent visit to the island.
An era has ended with the passing of one of Jamaica's treasured daughters, the First Lady of comedy and national icon, the Honourble Louise Bennett Coverley, affectionately called Miss Lou.
Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora are mourning the loss of Miss Lou who collapsed at home early yesterday and was taken to the Scarborough Grace Hospital in Toronto, Canada, where she died. She was 86.
The daughter of the late Augustus Bennett and his wife Kerene, Miss Lou was born in Kingston on September 7, 1919, and was educated at Calabar Elementary School, Ebenezer Primary, St. Simon's College and Excelsior High School.
Louise Bennett received numerous awards, both in Jamaica and abroad. In 2001 she received the Order of Merit; the Order of Jamaica in 1974, the Norman Manley Award for Excellence in the field of Arts, the Institute of Jamaica's Musgrave silver and gold medals for distinguished eminence in the field of arts and culture. In 1960 she was made a member of the British Empire (MBE) for work in Jamaican literature and theatre.
Famous for her radio shows, including "Laugh with Louise', 'Miss Lou's Views' and "The Lou and Ranny Show' with Ranny Williams, she was also celebrated for her 1970's children's television show 'Ring Ding'.
Since news of her passing emerged yesterday, numerous tributes have flowed in from various sectors of Jamaican society.
Miss Lou is survived by her only son Fabian and many "adopted" children. Her husband, Eric Coverley, died in 2002. Funeral arrangements are to be announced at a later date.
