Ivy Cooke

Ivy Sylvia Lucille Cooke (née Tai; 27 June 1916 – 5 June 2017) was a Jamaican educator who was best known as the wife of Sir Howard Cooke, the Governor-General of Jamaica from 1991 to 2006. She was known as Lady Cooke after her husband's knighthood.

The Most Honourable

Ivy, Lady Cooke
Wife of the Governor-General of Jamaica
In office
1 August 1991 – 15 February 2006
Preceded byJosephine Glasspole
Succeeded byRheima Hall
Personal details
Born
Ivy Sylvia Lucille Tai

27 June 1916
Died5 June 2017 (aged 100)
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1939)​
Children3

Biography

Cooke was the daughter of a "successful merchant" of Chinese descent.[1]

She attended the Warsop All-Age School in Trelawny, and then went on to the Bethlehem Teacher Training College. Cooke taught for periods at Montego Bay High School for Girls (guidance counsellor), Montego Bay Boys' School (assistant principal), and Bell Castle All-Age School (assistant principal and acting principal). She later worked for the Ministry of Education as a supervisor of teacher colleges and an early childhood education officer.[2] Her husband, Howard Cooke, also trained as a teacher; they married in July 1939, and had three children together – Howard Jr., Richard, and Audrey. After their marriage they initially taught together in a remote community in Portland Parish.[1]

In 1991, Cooke's husband was appointed Governor-General; he had previously been a People's National Party politician. She supervised the running of King's House during his 15-year tenure, and cultivated vegetable gardens on the grounds as well as raising goats, rabbits, cattle, and chickens.[3] She had a particular interest in music, serving as patron of the Jamaica Independence Festival and starting the tradition of annual Christmas concerts at King's House.[4]

Cooke was 89 years when her husband left office, and he was 90. They retired to Brandon Hill, in Montego Bay Jamaica, and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2009.[1] Howard Cooke died in July 2014, aged 98.[5] Lady Ivy Cooke died in June 2017, 22 days short of her 101st birthday.[3] She was given a state funeral, and interred at the National Heroes Park in Kingston.[6]

Her death was noted in the Parliament of Jamaica, with both Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Leader of the Opposition Peter Phillips making condolence statements.[7]

References
  1. When Howard met Ivy..., Jamaica Observer, 27 August 2009; retrieved 29 November 2017.
  2. The Most Honourable Lady Cooke Archived 2017-12-29 at the Wayback Machine, Official Website of the Governor-General of Jamaica. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  3. Lady Cooke Dies At 100, Jamaica Gleaner, 6 June 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  4. Western Jamaica stalwart Lady Cooke laid to rest, Jamaica Star, 4 July 2017; retrieved 29 November 2017.
  5. Remembering Sir Howard Cooke, Jamaica Gleaner, 12 July 2014; retrieved 29 November 2017.
  6. Lady Ivy Cooke, widow of former GG, Sir Howard, laid to rest, Loop Jamaica, 2 July 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  7. House Pays Tribute to Lady Cooke, Jamaica Information Service, 14 June 2017; retrieved 29 November 2017.
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