Tears flowed freely as family members, friends and colleagues of Sryinga Marshall Burnett paid their last respect to the former president of the Senate and president of the Nurses’ Association of Jamaica at her official funeral held at the University Chapel of the West Indies, Mona, on November 6.

Marshall Burnett who was chairperson of the National Council for Senior Citizens up to the time of her passing, and ended her earthly sojourn at 79 years was described by those who paid tribute to her as a loving family matriarch, an educator, nation builder, trail blazer, social activist, and a health care professional who championed the rights of nurses in the country.

These glowing tributes came from several government officials, including Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, members of the Opposition relatives and nurses.

“She has been rightly called many wonderful things, a giant of a women and one of Jamaica’s greatest daughter but I humbly believe that through her work and dedication to this country, the Diaspora and her family, she has transcended all these labels and she will be remembered not as Aunt Sam but as Mother Sam,” said grand-niece, Elizabeth Hylton who could not hold back her tears as she spoke.

The young lawyer said that her aunt was the biggest motivator in the family and supported everyone in their success no matter how small and her approval was “a most desired commodity.”

“When Aunt Sam was proud of your success it suddenly feels more beautiful. If any of you ever doubted the immense importance of what she has done you don’t have to look no further than her family,” Hylton said.

The stateswoman, who was the second female president of the Senate served with distinction in many other organisations including the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) School of Nursing in Kingston as the head; as a past executive member on the National Executive Committee of the People National Party; multiple times president of the Nurses’ Association of Jamaica; member of the World Health Organisation Panel of Expert Nurses and she also represented the country and the UWI on regional nursing bodies.

Marshall Burnett who was a product of the community of Dean Pen in St Mary is survived by her husband, Jasper, daughter, Jacqueline, other relatives and friends.