at the age of 102.

She was born in Bermuda on April 7, 1898, and left with her father and siblings to live in Canada at age nine. Her father, George DeShield, became a leader in Montreal's growing black community, helping to found the Union Street United Church and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).

Anne became a school teacher and served as secretary for the UNIA Literary Club, in addition to tutoring black children with social problems and being an active member of the Debating Society.

After she married Edward Packwood and gave birth to two children, Mrs.

DeShield-Packwood provided foster care for children of mixed heritage. In the 1950s she hosted a series of programmes on CBC Radio dealing with the needs of multi-race/multi ethnic children.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Anne acted in numerous theatrical productions by the Negro Theatre Guild. She also assisted her husband, Edward Packwood, to establish one of Montreal's first black weekly newspapers, the Freelance.

Among her most vivid and memorable occasions was the time Marcus Garvey stayed at her home for a week during his brief stop in Canada.

She described him as "a perfect gentleman who was devoted to educating and uplifting people of colour''.

Mrs. DeShield-Packwood has received many awards for her outstanding community work.