National treasure, Dr Dorothy Cooke-Johnson, laid to rest

The decades of commitment to the national cancer fight by Dr Dorothy Cooke-Johnson will be inscribed in this country’s history books, but the role she played in the life of her son Chris Cooke-Johnson, will forever be etched in his heart and memory.

In an emotional tribute to his mother who passed away on August 14, at age 81, Chris, during a funeral service on Thursday, said the founder and longstanding chair of the Barbados Cancer Society (BCS) was also “a father” to him.

Chris told those gathered at the St Peter’s Parish Church that his  father Peter Cooke-Johnson died of stomach cancer in 1976, three weeks after the birth of his son.

The couple had been trying for years to have a child, and halfway through Dr Cooke-Johnson’s pregnancy, her husband received the diagnoses and endured an onslaught of chemotherapy just to stay alive to witness Chris’ birth. Peter was buried in the churchyard of the St Peter’s Parish Church exactly 45 years and 11 months ago.

Dr Cooke-Johnson founded the BCS in memory of her husband to help teach Barbadians how to avoid cancer, assist those diagnosed with the disease in accessing treatment, and to provide counselling and support for families who are fighting the battle.

“Besides all of these things, she was my mom. My mom was my mother, my father, my friend and my teacher, my biggest fan and supporter. She is very much the person who has most shaped my life.

“Our summer vacations were spent on holidays, but not your typical vacations. They were filled with visits to science and natural history museums, national parks, hiking, camping and exploring. She was absolutely the best teacher I could have. She taught me to play the piano, but also  to change a car tyre,” Chris said, adding that his mother was also a devoted grandmother to her grandchildren Ayden and Kai, and a mother-in-law that his wife Sophie could call on for advice.

But what held Chris in awe of his mother was the role she played in other people’s lives, often privately, and quietly. He said there is no doubt that she was able to be of service and genuinely help many more people that he will ever know.

“My mom brought hope to the hopeless and comfort if the worst fears were realised. But her advocacy in all respects was always geared towards prevention. How to solve the problem before it starts through understanding and statistical underpinnings and using data for targeted education.

“One of the things that I was very happy to learn about is that just a few weeks before her passing, she happened to drop by the cancer society and saw the framed photo and write up of my dad being prepared to be unveiled, which I know pleased her very much,” he said.

Chris told the congregation that his mother wanted to have the building which is home to the BCS named in memory of her husband, but did not want to take the step as a sitting president.

“Now maybe, it will bear both their names,” he said.

Dr Cooke-Johnson was also a Council Member of the Barbados Family Planning Association, former Director of the Barbados RSPCA, former lecturer at the Barbados Community College, former principal of St Winifred’s School and former teacher at Harrison College, Queen’s College, and The Lodge School. The England-born Cooke-Johnson also served as Executive Secretary of the National Organisation of Women, and was a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

Delivering a tribute on behalf of the cancer society, Dr Basil Springer said that Dr Cooke-Johnson, who mobilised the public and private sector to offer support for the implementation of the society’s mission, and served as honorary secretary from inception and then president from 2012 to 2021, was the nucleus around which strong and impressive teams served on the society’s councils over the 42 years of its existence.

Dr Springer said she will be remembered as someone who was disciplined, demonstrated leadership, was an example for her son, bonded with her family, was passionate, persistent, patient, ambitious and confident.

“Barbados has lost a national treasure. The Barbados Cancer Society must now continue to honour her legacy and build on this foundation with the help of all,” Dr Springer said.

Reverend Dr Marcus Lashley, who delivered the sermon, credited Dr Cooke-Johnson for turning her pain like a wounded healer, into the motivation for the creation of a support group, now known as the cancer society.

He said that Dr Cooke-Johnson used her loss to save the lives of countless others, soothing the pain, anxiety and devastation that gripped the lives of hundreds of people both near and far.

“There are persons who have lived, who are alive now, and are yet unborn, who will benefit from what she did with her pain and her loss. For me, that is profound. The raft of services which continues to expand, will touch the lives of many more.

“And today, we give God thanks for the way he allowed her to change that pain, that sadness, that loss, to move it from just being inside of her, to be the source of motivation so that her life was then lived not for self, but for others,” Dr Lashley said.

Member of Parliament for St Peter Colin Jordan who joined Cooke-Johnson’s family and friends for the farewell service, apologised for the absence of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who was attending to national duties.

Cooke-Johnson was buried in the churchyard of the St Peter church.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb