Further tributes were paid to social worker and counsellor Martha Dismont in the Senate yesterday.

Ms Dismont, who built the therapeutic charity Family Centre and tirelessly advocated for Bermuda’s vulnerable — particularly children — died last week.

Independent senator John Wight led the tributes during the session of the Upper House.

He said: “Martha was a close friend to many, many people in Bermuda including myself and I was very much taken aback by the very sad news that she had passed away.

“I worked with Martha for many years on various committees and organisations and she was one of the most thoughtful, kindest people I met and she certainly was the supporter for so many people who needed her help over many years.

“Many families are better off today because of the great work that Martha had done over her career so I just want to offer my condolences to her daughter and all her family members. at this very difficult time.”

Government senator Lindsay Simmons described Ms Dismont as “a champion of Bermuda”.

The Junior Minister for Social Development said: “Being a foster parent I worked closely with Martha at the Family centre and her responsibilities for over 30 years was to make sure that children and her families came together.

“She realised that there were deeper issues for children with academic problems so she made it her life’s work to ensure that these families came together and worked through these issues. She took a very unique approach when doing so. She’s a great miss.”

Kiernan Bell, the Senate vice-president, said: “I think we could all talk about Martha all day.

“As a jurisdiction we’ve lost one of our great supporters and she’s had a huge impact not only on the people that she influenced on boards and committees like me when I was privileged to work with her on the Chamber of Commerce board, but in particular all of the families and children who are now benefiting from the support that she provided.”

OBA senator Robin Tucker said Ms Dismont would be “a tremendous miss” while government senator Leslie Robinson extended her condolences to the Dismont family for the passing of Ms Dismont’s mother-in-law, Joan Dismont.

The Opposition’s Douglas De Couto said Ms Dismont was “a force of nature who brought her wide range of skills and force of personality to a great cause”.

Owen Darrell, the Government Senate Leader, said he first met Ms Dismont when his mother began working for Family Centre.

Joan Dillas-Wright, the Senate president, concluded the tributes, saying that she “wept a tear” on learning of Ms Dismont’s death.

“I met Martha when she first came to Bermuda and I knew her husband and it was really was quite an unfortunate issue when her husband died after three years of marriage.

“But she, having been born in the States came to Bermuda and she’s done a life’s work on this island in terms of all the agencies and families.

“She and I used to talk quite a lot because my own area was mental health and counselling so over the years we’ve had to communicate and I was always impressed with how she managed to keep busy and do so much for this island.

“I got to know her and when we got to debate the marijuana bill, that was when she really came over to me to talk to me about it. She was exceedingly distressed by the fact that we were making it legal but I would just say that she was a godsend to this island.

“A lot of families and the children have benefited from her time here and all the organisations that she represented. She needs to be celebrated and certainly her family need to be thanked for all that she’s done for her adoptive home.”