Anita Doherty Our Warrior

By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

#TheBahamas, March 31, 2022 – It takes true determination to master one sport but in true ‘Mrs D’  fashion Anita Doherty mastered five, and then went on to become a legendary educator and pacesetting philanthropist.

Anita started out as De Gregory.  Part of a fabulous close-knit clan.  Later she would become Doherty (thanks to her husband) or ‘Mrs D’ as she was fondly called, revered for touching the lives of thousands of people.

“Anita Doherty committed her life to service; to teaching, to educating our youth, guiding and directing a generation that will be forever grateful.

She had the strength of character molded on the principles of hard work and determination. She was nobody’s fool, and was resolute in her convictions. These were among her qualities that quantified her leadership in the classroom, in the conduct of her civic duties and in her sports prowess.

Arguably, Anita Doherty was among the greatest Bahamian female athletes. From track and field to tennis, she had mastered. Her achievements were high and her performance stellar,” said Hon Obie Wilchcombe, Minister of Social Development and Member of Parliament for West End & Bimini.

Little known fact, Anita Louise Doherty was born in 1949 in Nassau, New Providence but she was a West End girl to the bone.  Her history reports that at the age of five years old, Anita moved to the capital of Grand Bahama just as the island was coming  into its own, a hayday which her family would be intricately a part of through business, sports and politics.

Wallace Groves, an American investor, around the same time little Anita moved into Grand Bahama would begin development on a lumber project which mushroomed to a multi-million dollar lumber industry and led to the population of Grand Bahama and establishment of Freeport.

While education was available in her home, Anita was afforded an education abroad.  She attended Hampton, a boarding school in Jamaica.  This is where her love of sports was cultivated.  From 1960 to 1967 she dominated the Jamaican Hockey and Tennis scenes taking both the Under 16 and Under 18 girls tennis championship titles.

After leaving Jamaica she entered Ulster College of Physical Education in Northern Ireland where she continued her sporting career representing her college in Under 21 Netball Tournaments and Track and Field.

In 1970, Anita officially started what would be a four decades long teaching career.  She entered the noblest of professions while still honing her sporting talent. She took her penchant for mastering multiple sports to the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh Scotland in 1970 where she represented The Bahamas in the Pentathlon.

At the time, she was also teaching at Hawksbill All Age School in Grand Bahama; later the Ministry of Education would shift her to Nassau and the D.W. Davis High School where she would tack on four more years.

Next stop for the tough-love-styled teacher would prove her most enduring; she spent 38-years as a Warrior.  Initially as a P.E. teacher, advancing to Vice-Principal and then to Principal of the school.

“She was a fierce warrior in the truest sense of the word! A former athlete, Educator, Vice Principal and Principal of Bishop Michael Eldon School, her dedication to Education and Athletics impacted the lives of the numerous students she taught, coached and mentored during her stellar 38-year career.

As a proud warrior and Freeport Anglican High School Alumna, I have beautiful memories of my former PE teacher and Educator. I was fortunate to witness her passion for young people firsthand.

Mrs. Doherty left an indelible mark on Grand Bahama, and she will be missed,” said Hon Ginger Moxey, Minister for Grand Bahama and a 1991 graduate of Freeport Anglican High School.

For 38-years, Mrs. D would shepherd youngsters at Freeport High which became Freeport Anglican High which today is called the Bishop Michael Eldon School, an Anglican Central Education Authority run institution.

Among her students, Deandrea Hamilton, CEO of Magnetic Media.  On learning of Mrs. D’s death, Deandrea penned her own tribute, which is posted at Magnetic Media Fanpage on Facebook and at MagneticMediaTV.com, the company’s website.

Anita Doherty was a wife to John Sr, a mother to John John (Jr) and two grand-children.  She was a sister, auntie, cousin, friend, icon, community leader and a member and former governor of Pilot Club International.

“A legend has taken her heavenly wings. Our sincere condolences to the Doherty family, our Pilot family and countless friends and students around the world, who knew and loved  our dear Pilot Anita,” said Karen Ferguson-Bain, Governor, Bahamas District Pilot International.

Doherty was recognized by the Government at a 25th Silver Anniversary Banquet in July, 1998 and by Zonta Club of Nassau Women ‘Living Legends in November, 1998. She was also inducted into the Grand Bahama Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and The Bahamas Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2014 she was honoured by the Kamalamee Organization.

Never one to keep her talent to herself, Mrs. D has been involved in community activities as Director – YMCA Keep Fit, President – Bahamas Netball Association, Secretary – Grand Bahama Softball Association and Treasurer – InterScholastic Sports.

She served as President of The Grand Bahama Tennis & Squash Club, President of The Grand Bahama Athletic Association, Vice President of The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations and Secretary of the COED Pilot International.

Anita Doherty ascended to the highest seat as Chief Councilor, which is equivalent to being the mayor of the City of Freeport in Grand Bahama.

She has also been a Wall of Fame honouree at Hampton Girls School, Jamaica where daily she continued to share devotions with the alma mater, just as she did with members of her family and her church.

It was that confirming evidence that until the end, Anita Doherty, was dedicated to being an inspiration and committed to helping to usher people to their fullest potential; that she was a woman of great faith in God and His handiwork.

There would be no sudden pass for Anita.  It was a gradual walk, a trot maybe across that finish line of life… unresponsive at first, then fearlessly with a bit of preparation for those who loved her most, she slipped away.  Gone, but always to be remembered.

Anita Doherty died on Monday March 28 at the age of 73; her funeral is announced for Freeport, Grand Bahama, Saturday April 9, 2022 at the Christ the King Pro Cathedral at 10am.