On Tuesday, The Gleaner published titbit remembrances of persons from the arts and entertainment industries who died in 2008. Below is a list, by no means exhaustive, of other Jamaican stalwarts from various fields of endeavour who died last year.

Marie Atkins

1920-2008

Marie Maud Atkins was born Marie Murray at Warsop, Trelawny, in 1920.

Educated at Warsop Elementary School and then attended Bennett's Commercial College in Kingston; received a diploma from the Prospect Heights High School in the United States, then studied nursing in New York.

Married Lloyd Atkins; the union produced three children.

Played the piano and was a member of the United Church in Jamaica and Grand Cayman.

Joined the People's National Party (PNP) in 1943 as a group member.

Elected councillor to the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation in 1974 for communities, including Riverton City, Callaloo Bed and Waterhouse in Western St Andrew.

Elected deputy mayor in 1986, and mayor in 1989 to 2003. She was the third female mayor of Kingston.

In fulfilment of one of her aims as mayor, Atkins, in conjunction with the Poor Relief Department, established the Mayor's Feeding and Hygiene Programme, providing meals, clothing and bathroom facilities for more than 100 indigent persons daily.

Raised funds for the establishment of a night shelter at Hanover Street for the city's homeless.

Instrumental in establishing twin-city relationship between Kingston and cities abroad, such as Morne A'Leau in Guadeloupe and Shenzhen in China.

Criticised for not using her influence in local government to secure far-reaching infrastructural and operational improvements.

Died Sunday, December 28, at her home in Cherry Gardens.

Served as justice of the peace; member of the PNP executive; second vice-president, World Conference of Mayors (1992-1995), president, 1995-1998; treasurer, Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities (1992-1993).

Awarded Order of Distinction (Commander class) in 1992.

Named honourable citizen of New Orleans, United States (US) (1989); Alabama, US (1995); and Shenzhen, China (1995).

Hartley Neita, the journalist who loved to reminisce, died in December at age 78. He was press secretary to three Jamaican prime ministers and wrote biographies about two of them - Sir Donald Sangster and Hugh Lawson Shearer.

Dorothy 'Dottie Dean' LaCroix was one of the pillars of Radio Jamaica where she worked for many years. She died in September, at age 84.

Desmond Henry, former director of tourism, cultural attaché at the Jamaican Embassy in Washington, DC, and public-relations consultant, died in February in Florida. He was 73 years old.

Oliver Foot, son of former governor of Jamaica, Sir Hugh Foot, died in February at age 61. He was a former vice-president of public affairs at Air Jamaica and Sandals Resorts.

Minna Davis-Wilmot, former People's National Party councillor for the Seaward and Molynes Gardens divisions, died in February.

Professor Keith Sobion, principal at the Norman Manley Law School, passed away in February at age 56. Sobion was Trinidad and Tobago's attorney general from 1990-1994.

William 'Bill' Bowes was commissioner of police for two and a half years, being appointed in April 1980. He died in March at age 82.

Keble Munn, the minister of national security during the 1976 State of Emergency, died in April at age 88. He was one of the founding fathers of Jamaica's coffee industry, serving as CEO of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory for several years. Munn was also member of parliament for East Rural St Andrew.

J.A.G. Smith was an MP and former minister of labour and public service in the Jamaica Labour Party government of the 1980s. He died in December at age 80.

Adina Edwards contributed to the gospel music industry, singing in churches and on street corners. She died in April, aged 83.

Marcia Bowen started out as a reporter and editor at The Gleaner, and went on to make her name as a communications person with the Sandals Group, Blue Cross of Jamaica and Digicel. She died in April, aged 34.

Marie Atkins, former mayor of Kingston, died in December at age 88. She was councillor with the People's National Party for 30 years.

Norman Rae, playwright, producer and critic, died in June at age 76. He was awarded the Order of Distinction in 2007 for his contribution to the development of Jamaican theatre.

Arthur Gilchrist, former mayor of Montego Bay, died in June at age 66. A long-standing member of the People's National Party, Gilchrist was an influential member of St James' business and trade union movement.

Geof Brown, former Gleaner columnist, HR consultant and respected social commentator, died in September. He was 78. Brown was a columnist with the Jamaica Observer at the time of his death.

Richard 'RW' Mathias, the Guyanese World War II veteran who made Jamaica his home for many years, died in June at the age of 83. Mathias worked as a sports reporter at The Gleaner, the Jamaica Record and the Jamaica Observer.

Daniel Edgar Warren-Kidd, educator, died in June at the age of 97. He was a founding member of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union and the Jamaica Labour Party. Warren-Kidd also founded the Warren Hall High School.

Norman Cuffe, street-smart journalist, died in July; he was 58. Cuffe covered news, entertainment and sports for The Gleaner, The Herald and the Jamaica Observer.

Cherice Brown, a stalwart of The Gleaner news-room for over 30 years, died in July. A tireless worker, Brown worked as a typist, sub-editor and reporter.

Journalist Monica Dias also died in September. Dias, who was 56, worked at The Gleaner and the United Nations Children's Fund.

Sister Mary Stephanie, who transformed Holy Child-hood High School froma small institution to one of Jamaica's top secondary schools, passed away in May.

Media man Byron Balfour died in November at age 64. Balfour wrote for The Gleaner and the Western Mirror and served as press secretary to Prime Minister Edward Seaga during the 1980s.