It was an occasion of laughter and deep sorrow.

Yesterday's special Supreme Court sitting in honour of Dame Lois Browne Evans saw a broad range of emotion.

But perhaps most evident was a profound respect for a Bermudian trailblazer who fought for honour and justice.

Dame Lois died from a suspected stroke at age 79. At yesterday's session, more than 60 people, mostly comprising of Bermuda's legal community, as well as politicians, gathered to pay tribute.

The Island's courts were halted for the two-hour sitting and there were many bouts of laughter and deep sorrow, with some of those present, holding back tears.

Chief Justice Richard Ground opened the assembly, making opening remarks and regretted not having had the chance to know Dame Lois personally.

Mr. Ground declared: "We're here to remember and celebrate the life of Dame Lois Browne Evans. I regret that when I came to Bermuda in 1992, she had already ceased to practise criminal law."

Fourteen lawyers and judges gave three-minute tributes paying homage to Mrs. Browne Evans' pioneering in legal and social justice that Bermuda had not seen before.

Dame Lois served as MP for Devonshire North for 30 years, having been elected as the first black women to Parliament and the first female barrister.

In addition, Dame Lois was the first female Attorney General and the first woman to become Opposition Leader in a British Commonwealth country.

Many also remember her tenure as leader of the Progressive Labour Party during much of the 1970s and 1980s — leading her party through rocky periods.

And, she ultimately helped to plant the seeds for the PLP's historic land-slide victory against the United Bermuda Party in 1998, repealing more than 30 years of what most perceived to be a white-dominated administration.

In a poignant speech praising Dame Lois' shattering of racial barriers and her fight against the status quo, defence lawyer Victoria Pearman slammed the media and Government House over its demeanour in the wake of her death.

Ms Pearman criticised an evening TV news-cast that followed Dame Lois' passing, in which she said a bank report was the lead story and only gave 90 seconds of news with respect to Mrs. Browne Evans.

She questioned Government House's initial refusal in lower its flag to half-mast to mourn Dame Lois — as Cabinet had requested — because of protocol that "only does so for the British Monarchy."

"I rise today with a heavy heart and I wonder if I can stand strong enough in the wake of her passing. But, I stand on the shoulders of one that believed in honour, justice and platitude," she added.

"We're not at the point that some pretend that we can all walk down the street singing kum ba yah. We have lost at least four or five libraries of knowledge with the loss of Dame Lois.

"Lois Browne Evans taught me to be fearless in defending people's rights and to always be courteous in the legal ring and to never forget the duty of a defence counsel."

Former Attorney General Larry Mussenden commended the Dame for her willingness to take on any case — whether it was low profile or prominent.

Especially in the trials of Erskine (Buck) Burrows and Larry Tacklyn — who were executed by hanging in 1977 after being convicted of murders in 1972 and 1973. Their executions still trouble the Bermuda psyche today.

Mr. Mussenden called on Government to name the new Supreme Court building that is planned, as "The Lois Browne Evans Justice Centre," complete with a bronze statute of Dame Lois in the courtyard.

He also called for it to be located between the Supreme Court Registry on Front Street and Reid Street, to represent "Bermuda's first-class representation."