In a recent statement 2nd District Representative Hon. Melvin Mitch Turnbull penned a tribute in memory of the late Hilda E. Stoutt, the first, first lady of the Virgin Islands, wife of first Chief Minister Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt.
Turnbull wrote, “I pause today to pay heartfelt tribute to an outstanding Virgin Islands stalwart. Mrs. Hilda E. Stoutt will be remembered fondly as our territory’s earliest “First lady”. We must also not forget that she is a tourism industry pioneer, being the General Manager of the BVI’s first residential rental property, a business model now widely pursued, and its benefits enjoyed by so many. Her husband and our Territory’s first Chief Minister – the late, great Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt, is indubitably celebrated as the most visionary leader that this territory has ever seen. But today, I stop to acknowledge that beside this visionary was a devout patriot in her own powerful right. The saying goes “man may work from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done.”
Hon. Turnbull spoke to the late Mrs. Stoutt lifelong contributions stating, “Mrs. Stoutt lived a limitless life. She coupled her personal responsibilities as a wife, mother, and believer in Christ, with several other pursuits such as baking, business, landscaping, and philanthropy. Through her legacy, generations of women can be assured that they too have the power to be limitless. May she always be remembered for her devotion to her family and country. On behalf of my family and I, the Second District Community and wider Virgin Islands, I extend my sincerest condolences and prayers to the entire family.”
The first ever First Lady of the Virgin Islands, Mrs. Hilda E. Stoutt, wife to the Territory’s first Chief Minister, Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt, passed away on February 8th 2022.
This was confirmed by her son Preston Stoutt in an invited comment by our agency.
Mrs. Stoutt, a mother of 6, was an ardent Methodist and member of the Zion Hill Methodist Church. Originally from Carrot Bay, Tortola, she moved to Long Bay after marrying Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt in 1956.
The two were married for 39 years at the time of his passing in 1995.
Mrs. Stoutt was well known throughout the community for being a wife, mother, baker, homemaker, grandmother, philanthropist and a pioneer businesswoman in the tourism industry serving as the first General Manager of a short term property in the Virgin Islands.
During her time as First Lady, she was present and met Queen Elizabeth II on both of her visits to the Virgin Islands.
She is remembered for her grace, class and elegance.