Forty-seven individuals were officially recognised for their outstanding contributions to the island of Grand Bahama during a press conference held July 16, 2025 at the Foster B. Pestaina Centre.
They are set to receive their national honours on National Heroes Day, October 13. The awards will be presented by Governor General, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Cynthia A. Pratt.
The honourees are:
1. Neko Grant – Former Cabinet Minister & MP
2. Mrs. Barbara Gertrude Thompson – Retired Educator
3. Mr. Bradley Lester Ambrister – Late Family Island Administrator
4. Mrs. Carolyn Patricia Rolle – Retired Educator
5. Mr. Cecil Jeffrey Thompson – Retired Educator
6. Mrs. Cynthia Donalson – Member of the Women’s Suffrage Movement
7. Dr. Donald Maury McCartney – Retired Educator
8. Rev. Hartley Eugene Thompson – Senior Pastor, Freeport Gospel Chapel
9. Mr. Hezekiah Nemore John Dean – Retired Educator
10. Mrs. J. Maria Doris Thompson – Retired Founding Principal, Freeport of Freeport Gospel Chapel School
11. Rev. Mary Elizbeth Russell – Retired Educator
12. Mrs. Mildred Roberts – Retired Educator
13. Mrs. Myrton Eloise King – Retired Educator
14. Dr. Pamela Emily Mills – School Psychologist
15. Dr. Paula Aretha Mortimer – Retired Educator
16. Mr. Felix Sonny Johnson [Deceased] – Legendary Bahamian Musician
17. Mrs. Victoria Elthedra Wright – Retired Educator
18. Mrs. Yvonne Loretta Ward – Retired Educator
19. Bishop Simeon Outten – Pastor of New life Worship Center & Iconic Gospel Artist
20. Rev. Dr. Benjamin Edward Ferguson – Pastor Emmanuel Missionary at Baptist Church & Retired Senior Public Officer
21. Mr. Kelly Burrows – Retired Hotel Executive
22. Mr. Advardo Dames, Assistant Commissioner of Police
23. Mrs. Alisa Annette Streather-Robinson, Head of Art & Craft Department, Jack Hayward Senior High School
24. Mrs. Cheryl Marie Bain – Retired Nurse
25. Mrs. Demaris Deloris Thompson – Retired Educator
26. Mrs. Daphne Lewis-Barr – Retired Educator
27. Mrs. Palma Stubbs-Pratt – Deceased Legendary Nurse
28. Mrs. Dorothy Maxine Lightbourne – Deceased, Legendary Educator
29. Mrs. Denise Leonora Pinder – Assistant Parliamentary Commissioner
30. Mrs. Elcina Lavern Duncombe – Retired Educator
31. Bishop Kermit Eugene Saunders – Pastor Kingdom Worship Center
32. Mr. Ricardo Anthony Lightbourne – Retired Sports Reporter & Journalist
33. Mr. Averell Mortimer – Retired Educator
34. Beulahmae Fowler
35. Rev. Carolyn Cooper – Senior Pastor, Invaders for Christ
36. Superintendent Doyle Livingston Burrows – Royal Bahamas Police Force
37. Mrs. Estelle Elizabeth Pinder – Retired Nurse
38. Mr. Godfrey Pinder – Sports Legend
39. Bishop George Edward Thompson – Retired Pastor, Church of God of Prophecy, Coral Road
40. Mr. James Layman Hadley Forbes – President, H. Forbes Chater & Tours
41. Mrs. Judith Melony Dawkins – Retiree ZSN
42. Mrs. Monique Elizabeth Leary – Retired Cultural Affairs Officer, MYSC
43. Rev. Kermit Mullings – Pastor, Abundant Assembly of God, EMR
44. Mrs. Sherril Paulette Woods – Principal, Sunland Baptist Academy
45. Mrs. Nell Wildgoose Russell – Softball Legend
46. Mr. Edison Oswald Laing
47. Mrs. Annaleta Elaine Swann – Retired Educator
