Bermuda was united in mourning yesterday as word spread of the passing of legendary political leader and lawyer Dame Lois Browne Evans.

Dame Lois, who would have turned 80 on Friday, was rushed to hospital late Monday by ambulance. She died at 12.55 a.m. yesterday of a suspected stroke.

Flags across the island stood at half mast as the trailblazing dynamo was lauded by politicians from all sides.

She was Bermuda's first female barrister, Bermuda's first female Attorney General, and the first woman to become Opposition Leader in a British Commonwealth. Dame Lois was also the first black woman to be elected an MP when she won the Devonshire North seat in 1963, a seat she held for 30 years during which time she led the Progressive Labour Party twice from 1968-1972 and then from 1976-1985.

She stood down from office at the 2003 general election after helping mastermind the switch to single-MP seats — something which she had long championed.

Fiery but fun-loving, Dame Lois commanded tremendous respect and yesterday tributes poured in from all sides of the political arena. Premier Ewart Brown said: "Last night our nation lost a piece of its soul. Dame Lois taught so many of us what it means to fight and win.

"She was a sister of the struggle and at times the struggle was violent. But like Martin Luther King, Dame Lois did not wage the struggle with her fists, she did it with words.

"She always honoured democracy and she always bowed to the law — even when Lady Justice seemed to betray her."

He added: "She was a champion for justice — not just for blacks, but for all people."

Opposition United Bermuda Party leader Michael Dunkley said: "Dame Lois is one of the giants of Bermuda history, a woman on the frontline of change throughout her life.

"Always approachable, always friendly and never afraid of controversy, Dame Lois was one of the major personalities of her time. She fought the good fight and lived to see real change improve the lives of many. As long-time leader of the Progressive Labour Party in opposition, she saw the party through some tough times."

Governor Sir John Vereker said: "Dame Lois was a great Bermudian who made an immensely important contribution. She will be greatly missed by all of us, and by me personally."

Deputy Premier Paula Cox said: "She was special. She had a warmth and irreverence that we loved. She was certainly the Grande Dame of politics. "I saw her a role model par excellence. She was a trailblazer, she was a politician and yet she had a warmth. She didn't let politics harden her. She had the soul of Bermuda at her fingertips and that's why we loved her."

Ms Cox said she was moved to tears by the passing. "She had that way of getting into your heart."

Former UBP Premier Sir John Swan, described Dame Lois as a mentor when he returned from college.

"She helped mould my development even though I wasn't in her party. She was always a very generous person with information, ideas and good will. She had Bermuda at heart always.

"She helped Bermuda become the modern Bermuda we know today by her constant pursuance of justice, particularly as a legal advocate.

"Even though we had an adversarial position we were never adversarial in spirit of our relationship. She was truly a Dame. I am hoping we will remember her and honour her in the way we treat each other and try to capture that spirit of togetherness."

Former Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson, a long-time family friend and PLP colleague, said Dame Lois helped change Bermuda through her courage in speaking out when many others would not. "Lois is one of the most important figures in our political development in the last half-century," said Mr. Hodgson.

"Her greatest asset was her courage, during the 1960s, when she was not afraid to speak candidly about the injustices that existed in Bermuda. "Those days, when powers that be took the opportunity to victimise anyone who was prepared to speak openly, most of us cowered under that threat. Her outstanding quality was the fact she was willing to speak.

"Through her courage, other Bermudians were able to take action and mobilise to make changes in the social structure in Bermuda. I don't think she would have been able to do this without the support of her husband, who was always the backbone of her courage, and was very insightful in respect of analysing Bermudians.

"We worked very closely together from 1963 onwards. There's very little that was done in the PLP that wasn't the result of our collaboration."

Mr. Hodgson said Dame Lois was always prepared to stand up for what she believed in.

He added: "Whenever we disagreed about anything and had to cross swords, we always reminded each other that we better be careful because we didn't know which one of us would live the longest and be able to have the last word. It looks like that's me now."

Former Premier Alex Scott said Dame Lois acted as a mentor and that her contribution to Bermuda would continue for many years to come.

Mr. Scott said: "When you think of how Dame Lois lived her life, while her immediate family was most important to her, the PLP was also her family and, on a larger scale, she included the people of Bermuda.

"History will prove we will not be able to discuss any aspect of our politics in the latter half of the last century without seeing the impact that she had on just about every aspect of Parliament and political life. "She was a key influence on individuals in politics. I for one owe a great, great deal to the mentoring she gave to people like myself and Dame Jennifer Smith.

"She may be gone from here physically, but her contribution is going to be omnipresent for years to come. "She is going to be with us in many, many different ways for the next 50 to 100 years. She certainly shaped our politics in a most significant way. She is already sorely missed."

A state funeral, at a date yet to be announced, is being planned and Cabinet has declared that day will be a public holiday. A condolence book will be available during normal business hours at Cabinet Office for members of the public to pay their respects.

At the wishes of the family, Dame Lois' 80th planned birthday celebration on Friday has been cancelled.