"One UWI, One Alumni Family" 

Tribute from the Director, UWI Alumni Relations, on the Passing of Her Excellency A. Missouri Sherman Peter, ODC.

It is with deep personal sadness that I join The UWI family, the people of The Bahamas, and the wider Caribbean in mourning the passing of our esteemed alumna, Her Excellency A. Missouri Sherman Peter, ODC. Her Excellency was not just a distinguished graduate of The UWI’s Mona Campus, she was a shining example of UWI excellence in action. I had the honour and privilege of knowing and working with her over many years, and I can say with certainty that she embodied the spirit of service, leadership, and unwavering regional pride that we so often speak of as the UWI legacy.

So many alumni have been reaching out to me to express their sorrow and admiration, sharing stories of her generosity, wisdom, and grace, including PVC and Principal of the Global Campus, Dr. Francis Severin, Barbara Brissett, Sha-Shana Crichton, Ann Marie Grant, Sandra Griffith Carrington, Roseanne Maxwell, Dr. Mortimer Moxey, Ferdinand Fortune, Marcia Skyers-James, Dr. Michelle Allen and many more too numerous to mention. The UWI Alumni Association Bahamas Chapter, in particular, has reflected on the immense void her passing leaves, not just in The Bahamas, but across our Caribbean diaspora.

Whether serving as Consul General in New York, CARICOM’s Permanent Observer to the UN, or in her many other diplomatic roles, she opened her heart and home to so many of us, alumni, students, colleagues, offering guidance, hospitality, and steadfast support. She made every UWI graduate she met feel seen, valued, and connected to a larger Caribbean family. Her achievements on the global stage were extraordinary, but she carried them with humility. Her 2013 Pelican Award and her UWI Honorary Doctorate in 2015 were proud moments for all of us, yet she remained ever committed to mentoring and supporting others, ensuring that her legacy was one of inclusion and empowerment.

Her Excellency once remarked that diplomacy is about working for both your country and the world. She lived that truth every day, and in doing so, she lifted all of us with her. On behalf of the UWI Alumni Relations Office and the global UWI alumni community, I extend sincere condolences to her children, family, friends, and the nation of The Bahamas. We have lost a giant among us, a true friend, and a gracious Caribbean woman of substance. May her soul rest in peace, and may her legacy continue to inspire generations of UWI graduates to come.