To get a glimpse of the long-lasting influence of trail-blazer Dame Lois Browne Evans, you only have to speak to any prominent woman in Bermuda today.

Tributes to Dame Lois poured into The Royal Gazette yesterday from the Deputy Premier, a former Premier, one of the Island’s top lawyers and two chief executives at leading organisations.

All are women, and all were in agreement: Dame Lois’ ground-breaking efforts played a huge role in their own achievements in getting where they are today.

Just a few of Dame Lois’ successes during her remarkable legal and political career include becoming Bermuda’s first female lawyer and first female Attorney General, and the first woman Opposition Leader in the Commonwealth.

She gave hope and confidence to black women to fight and ultimately triumph in an environment dominated for many years by white males.

Last night, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Paula Cox revealed the crucial impact Dame Lois had on her own career. “Bermuda has never been an easy place and for a woman who was operating in the time she did, in what was considered a male domain, she was ahead of her time,” said Ms Cox.

“She never seemed to falter but it had to be rough. There are still challenges and stereotypes to overcome but if you start with confidence, assurance and intelligence and also happen to be as fine an orator and historian as the late and great Grande Dame Lois Browne Evans was, it just looks a little bit easier.

“Clearly she made an impact on Bermuda and on me personally and I had tremendous affection, and admiration for her. We did not always agree and it was stimulating to disagree with her.

“We both had definite opinions but she had my utmost respect and love as a woman who cared, and who set about making a difference — she did not just talk about it. She wanted changes not to benefit herself but to advance the needs of the people.”

Dame Lois was a mentor to former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith early in the latter’s political career. Dame Jennifer was too upset to speak at length yesterday, but she described Dame Lois as “the conscience of this country”.

“Dame Lois was a major influence in my life. The heavens themselves mourned today,” said Dame Jennifer.

A further insight into the regard Dame Jennifer held her mentor can be seen in a foreword she wrote in a biography of Dame Lois six years ago. “I trust that all you who read this book will be inspired by Lois Browne Evans’ example to examine your own lives to see how you can contribute to the world around you,” wrote Dame Jennifer.

One of Bermuda’s leading lawyers, Elizabeth Christopher, said without a role model like Dame Lois she may never have launched her legal career.

“She was a strong black woman who forged a trail. She was an inspiration,” said Ms Christopher. “I was a teenager back in the 70s and really she was the premier role model. She was a professional woman and there weren’t that many professional black women in the public eye. It was a lot easier because of people like her.

“I’m a shy person. It really helped me to have Dame Lois as a role model because without that I would have been a bit nervous about taking the career I did. It’s not something I would have stepped out and tried. But there was a black woman that did step out there and achieve, and that gave me the inspiration.”

Cheryl-Ann Lister, CEO at Bermuda Monetary Authority, described Dame Lois as a trail-blazer who inspired her to overcome challenges in her own career. “She broke the glass ceiling even before those terms were being used,” said Mrs. Lister.

“She’s been a strong professional. She went into the professional world at a very early stage for Bermudian women. At that time, most Bermudian women were teaching or nursing.

“She got her legal qualifications and she certainly showed if you have got determination, grit and courage, and are willing to stand up for what you believe in, you can get there.

“Having an inspiration like Dame Lois certainly helped. She was a leader in her profession and a leader in politics when there weren’t a lot of leading females from Bermuda.”

Cheryl Packwood, CEO at Bermuda International Business Association, said: “Dame Lois Browne Evans is a heroine of the civil rights movement in Bermuda. She fought hard and long and is a tribute to what can be accomplished after much perseverance. “It’s still hard work today, but it’s easier to go to school and to make progress in your career than it used to be. Dame Lois’ generation and her participation made all that possible.”