Wed | Sep 10, 2025

Lois Grant dies week after receiving Kiwanis Club honour

Published:Thursday | June 6, 2024 | 12:09 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
Pause
1991 PHOTO: Minister Easton Douglas (right) is seen digging deep into his wallet to purchase 10 tickets from Kiwanian Edgar Abbott (left) to symbolically declare open a Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew’s cash raffle to raise $500,000 for the Victoria Jubil
File
1991 PHOTO: Minister Easton Douglas (right) is seen digging deep into his wallet to purchase 10 tickets from Kiwanian Edgar Abbott (left) to symbolically declare open a Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew’s cash raffle to raise $500,000 for the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, at the Medallion Hall Hotel on March 21, 1991. At centre is Lois Grant, secretary of the club. Rudolph Reid, president of the club (seated on platform), looks on with interest.
Lois Grant
Contributed
Lois Grant
Lois Grant
Contributed
Lois Grant
1
2
3

WESTERN BUREAU:

One week after being recognised for shattering the glass ceiling at the once male-dominated Kiwanis Club of West St Andrew, communication consultant Lois Grant has passed away.

Grant, 70, who worked with the former Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) and served in the communication unit in the Office of the Prime Minister under Bruce Golding’s leadership, died in hospital yesterday afternoon.

Grant, who was diabetic, passed away exactly seven days after the Kiwanis Club of West Andrew celebrated her during a special 45th anniversary meeting at the Medallion Hall, also in St Andrew.

Grant was founder and managing director of Corporate Image, a public relations and production company specialising in staging and producing major entertainment and cultural events. She had also been the owner and manager of a local Jamaican food franchise.

She was the first female accepted into the West St Andrew chapter in 1990, breaking what Distinguished President Don Foster described as the gender barrier despite initial resistance from the men in the organisation.

Grant’s acceptance led to the club being recognised as trailblazers in Jamaica as other clubs followed their lead.

In his address last Wednesday, Foster highlighted the significant impact of this decision, stating that Grant paved the way for many other women to join and excel in the club, rising to the level of distinguished secretary.

Recognising Grant’s invaluable contributions as a pro bono public relations officer, it was Distinguished President Maurice Henry who proposed her membership.

“Her efforts brought significant national attention and a positive image to the club, attracting new members eager to join a movement dedicated to serving children and the less fortunate,” Henry revealed, reminiscing on the resistance the club faced.

“Some members opposed the move so strongly that they threatened to leave the club. And indeed, some did. But the liberal and progressive members of the board were determined to make the change, and with this determination, the majority of the club’s membership approved the proposal,” Henry shared.

Grant was scheduled to speak at the club’s ‘Reflection’ meeting yesterday at 7:00 p.m.

“Kiwanians are in a state of shock. I don’t even know how we are going to carry out this meeting. We are distraught,” said a member of the organisation.

Reports are that Grant’s sugar level surged on Sunday evening. She struggled to get it down, and up to Tuesday, was being attended to by her family physician.

editorial@gleanerjm.com