Sonia Grant, a former Deputy Mayor of Hamilton who made history on June 8, 1993, when she became the first female councillor elected to the Corporation of Hamilton, has been mourned as a trailblazer and “devoted public servant whose legacy is firmly woven into the history of the city”.

Ms Grant, a lawyer raised in Hamilton with a background in teaching, was a champion for citizens exercising their vote, and reforms to municipal elections.

She also opposed moves by the Government to take over the running of Hamilton and St George.

Politics was part of Ms Grant’s life from early: in 1968, with the implementation of universal adult suffrage, she served as a teenager in the role of registration clerk for the Parliamentary Registrar.

She qualified as a teacher in England in 1974 and as a barrister-at-law in England in 1985. She practised law in Bermuda from 1986, largely dealing with probate, wills and estates.

Ms Grant also worked as registrar of the Synod of the Anglican Church of Bermuda, which enabled her to preside over the election of the Right Reverend Ewen Ratteray, the first Bermudian bishop of the Anglican Church in Bermuda. She attended his consecration and enthronement service in 1996.

She repeatedly threw her hat in the ring for the governance of Hamilton, establishing herself as a tenacious candidate.

She ran for office unsuccessfully in 1988 but five years later secured her place as councillor in the run against Sutherland Madeiros, taking 164 votes to 136.

In another break with tradition, Ms Grant was sworn in immediately afterwards in the mayor’s parlour of Cecil Dismont.

Her candidacy had been sponsored by the Bermuda Business and Professional Women’s Association, which hailed the result as a breaking of barriers.

Ms Grant said on her victory night: “The corporation has reached a significant milestone in its history with my election as councillor.

“I am indeed overwhelmed and I would say I am committed to seeing other women join the ranks of the corporation.”

Ms Grant became a senior alderman in 2003.

As Deputy Mayor, she headed up the city’s finance committee, and chaired several other corporation committees.

In what was believed another first for women in Bermuda politics, she set her sights on the top job, running unsuccessfully for mayor, twice, in 2006.

In April of that year, Ms Grant narrowly lost to Jay Bluck, who won by just 21 votes to become mayor, replacing Lawson Mapp.

However, Mr Bluck died of a heart attack at the age of 65 after just four months in office.

Ms Grant ran again for the top post, once more in a race against Mr Madeiros, who won that October by 161 votes to 124.

With her long background as a presiding officer for elections and by-elections, Ms Grant challenged what she called “irregularities” in the handling of the election.

She faulted procedure on election night and claimed that corporation officials had wrongly interpreted the law by allowing companies and other organisations to change the nominees allowed to vote on their behalf after the election notice was published.

The case made it to the Supreme Court in March 2007, where it was ultimately dismissed by Chief Justice Richard Ground.

Undeterred, Ms Grant criticised the city’s election franchise before the British Parliament.

She made another bid for mayor in 2009, in a race won by Charles Gosling.

Mr Gosling, the Mayor of Hamilton, today praised Ms Grant’s “distinguished career grounded in integrity, legal expertise and a deep commitment to public service”.

He added: “Her contributions extended across Bermuda’s legal, civic and ecclesiastical life, and she approached every role with conviction, professionalism and a genuine belief in good governance.

“In 1993, with the support of community leaders including Dame Marjorie Bean and Dolores Darrell, she made history when she became the first female member of the Corporation of Hamilton in its 200-year existence.

“She went on to serve the City with dedication for more than 12 years as a common councillor, senior alderman and Deputy Mayor.”

Mr Gosling added: “Her love for the City and her commitment to its proper governance were unwavering.

“She was steadfast in her belief in fairness, transparency and the rights of constituents.

“Whether advocating for free and fair elections, upholding human rights or championing civic participation, she served with conviction, courage and an unshakeable moral compass.

“Today, we honour not only her remarkable achievements, but the principled spirit behind them. Bermuda has lost a fierce advocate, a thoughtful leader and a woman whose contributions helped shape the modern City of Hamilton.

“On behalf of the council, city staff, and the residents and businesses we serve, I extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and all who were touched by her remarkable life.

“Her work, her leadership and her example will not be forgotten.”

• Sonia Patrea Eileen Grant, a lawyer and groundbreaking Hamilton official, was born on May 30, 1951. She died in November 2025, aged 74