Violet Neilson accorded official funeral

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Violet Neilson, will be laid to rest on Monday following an official funeral at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Rose Hall, St James.

The service is set to begin at 11:00 a.m.

Neilson died on June 11 at age 92.

Her record of public service spanned 13 years, between 1989 and 2002. She served as member of parliament for St James East Central and held several positions in government up to 1993. After successfully contesting the St James East Central seat in the 1993 general election, Neilson was appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. She served in that position until 1997. Following her re-election to the House of Representatives in 1997, Neilson was elevated to House Speaker, becoming the first woman to hold the office in Jamaica. She served in the position until 2002.

The late former parliamentarian also held the distinction of being the Jamaica Agricultural Society’s first female president.

Neilson, a native of Somerton, St James, attended Mico Teachers’ College, now The Mico University College, and returned to her community to work as a teacher, serving the education system for 19 years.

In 1997, Neilson was awarded the National Honour of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD), in recognition of her outstanding contribution in the areas of education, agriculture and community service.