Tribute: Patrice Jackson
The CAIHR family pays tribute to the life of Nurse Patrice Jackson, who a passed away on January 31, 2025.
The year was 2018 when Nurse Patrice Jackson came to us, beaming with youthful exuberance and filled with energy, ready to hit the ground running. We actually remember her first day! A past member of staff describes her as having a mature yet youthful personality. At our staff fun day, a very joyful Nurse Jackson was having fun on the seesaw, a vision of life and fun, kicking her legs and really enjoying herself. Such was our Nurse Patrice Jackson; she seized life with everything she had.
Nurse Jackson was always smiling. It was a joy to be in her presence. Patrice loved to have fun and move her body. Her bright smile and infectious laughter meant that everyone in her company would also have a good time as well. Whether it was participation in UWI sports day or dressing in an African outfit for International Day whatever the occasion, Patrice was well suited and ready to participate. She represented the Institute very well on Sport Days even in tug of war. From being dressed in blue and cheering on our teams with shinny pompoms and shouting the cheer “Good Stamina” to being dressed in white at our Christmas and Anniversary celebrations last December, Patrice was always ready to participate.
Nurse Jackson was known for her excellence: Patrice came to the Unit with little research experience, however she quickly learnt and carried out her role as research nurse with competence, commitment, and professionalism. Patrice seemed to squeeze joy into everything she did no matter how hard and complex the task was. She became a vital part of the team assisting the team of doctors to perform meticulous tasks in record time’s thereby keeping projects on track.
Nurse Jackson’s work had international reach. She embodied the CAIHR culture of excellence which was demonstrated in her work and which drew the attention of our international collaborators. Collaborators in the United Kingdom wrote: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Nurse Patrice Jackson. We know this is a tremendous loss for your team and the broader research community. We also know she made a significant contribution to the hydroxyurea trial. Please accept our heartfelt condolences and pass them along to your entire team, as well as to Nurse Jackson's family and loved ones.”
Nurse Jackson was an extraordinary person. As a nurse, she embodied compassion and strength, always focused on the wellbeing of those in her care. Nurse Jackson had an unmatched ability to connect with patients; she loved being a nurse. Her unwavering commitment to the well-being of others left an indelible mark on our team. She was a giver and selfless. I quote from a Senior Nurse: “Patrice thought nothing of taking the bus all the way to Half Way Tree to purchase a special lunch container that I wanted and could not find in the stores. Patrice was caring, willing, cheerful, and unassuming. She had a beautiful soul. She will never be forgotten. Unknown to me she purchased the containers and placed them on my desk the following morning”. Her kindness and thoughtfulness were overwhelming.
She was Family Centred: One of her most exciting moments was when she finally became a Grandma, well Nana as the name grandma seemed not appropriate for age or style. Her eyes lit up as she spoke daily of her Konnur and later her Soyini. Family was everything to her and she would say that she usually “POODUNG prayer for them" meaning she prayed so hard and constantly for her family that she thought the prayers had extras.
To close, a member of staff summed it all up:
