"A really strong woman accepts the war she went through and is ennobled by her scars."
Carly Simon
Over the weekend, the community of Englerston paid its final respects to a wonderful woman, who, for most of her life, resided in the constituency that she so dearly loved. Her name was Rosmal Rosemary Smith Fowler, affectionately called either Rosemary or Fowler, but, more often than not, never by both. And yet to others like me, out of deference to the power of her spirit, she was always Mrs. Fowler. She left us on July 11, and therefore, with her passing this week, we would like to Consider this...What is the legacy of this flower called Fowler?
Her early years
Rosmal Rosemary was born on October 4, 1936 to the late Ronald and Bernice Frazier Smith of Lower Bogue, a small sleepy settlement in North Eleuthera. She spent her early years there, obtaining an education at the Lower Bogue All-Age School and in her church where she learned the principles of Christian life that remained with her throughout her 77 years.
Mrs. Fowler moved to Nassau after completing her basic education and lived with her parents on Ragged Island Street. As was customary in those days, early in life Rosemary Fowler began working at several restaurants and hotels in the capital and on Eleuthera. She married Haywood Fowler in December 1957 and had 10 children.
A deeply spiritual life
Anyone who knew Mrs. Fowler quickly came to appreciate that she was a deeply spiritual person. She loved her home church, the Grants Town Wesley Methodist Church, and was not only an active member there, but was described by its former pastor, Rev. Frederick Kelly, as someone who "could always be consulted and trusted with deeply confidential matters". It was patently clear that those who paid tribute to her during the funeral on Saturday recognized that Mrs. Fowler's value system was prioritized in the order of church, family and political party.
Her political commitment
Rosemary Fowler supported the fledgling Progressive Liberal Party in the early days of its march to freedom, including the achievement of universal suffrage as well as the often frustrating and sometimes painful journey that ultimately culminated in majority rule in 1967 and independence in 1973.
Mrs. Fowler lived all of her adult life in the Englerston constituency, primarily through Podoleo Street. She passionately and uncompromisingly supported her members of Parliament, beginning with Sir Clifford Darling and the Hon. Peter Bethel (both deceased), yours truly and, more recently, the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin. Mrs. Fowler would often boast that she "was born a PLP and will die a PLP" and that she was "more PLP than [Sir Lynden] Pindling or [Perry] Christie".
I first met Mrs. Fowler during the 1997 general elections campaign when I ran for the Englerston constituency. I engaged her as a full-time employee in the constituency campaign office, and she worked tirelessly during the campaign to ensure that the office was immaculately maintained. In those days, successful candidates were not paid an allowance to maintain a constituency office and therefore, after the general elections which the PLP lost, Mrs. Fowler was ecstatic to learn that she would remain on the full-time constituency office staff. She worked even more diligently to ensure that everything was in its proper place and that persons visiting the constituency office were welcomed and comfortable. Mrs. Fowler was often the first to greet me when I arrived at the constituency office and one of the last to leave, ensuring at all times that her MP was supported in order to assist as many constituents as possible.
Upon being succeeded in Englerston by the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin, Mrs. Fowler was again retained by her new member of Parliament, proving to be as protective and supportive then as she was to the preceding member. Mrs. Fowler's boundless energy was legendary. Mrs. Hanna Martin recalled that during the 2012 election campaign, she and several campaign workers, including Mrs. Fowler, came to a wall in the area that was being canvassed and Mrs. Fowler was admonished to return to the car because of the impediment that the wall presented. As only she could, Mrs. Fowler, then 75-years-old, jumped the wall just as the other campaign workers did. She would neither be outdone nor left behind.
Mrs. Fowler loved political rallies and party conventions and, although she did not have a car, was always present early and positioned herself up-front and center to ensure that she heard every word emanating from the speakers.
She loved her Progressive Liberal Party, never in blind faith, but with a critically maternal perspective, because she believed that it was the organ that provided the greatest opportunity to enable her children and grand-children to participate more fully in the development of her beloved Bahamas.
Mrs. Fowler never forgot the quiet village of Lower Bogue from whence she came. Neither did she ever forget that in her early days in Nassau, her community in Englerston represented a larger version of the village that she left in North Eleuthera.
A lasting legacy
Although she never owned a house or a car, Mrs. Fowler welcomed everyone into her home and could always rely on friends to catch a ride, whether she was going to church, a political meeting or to visit a family member or friend in need of companionship or counsel.
Mrs. Fowler was a rare woman who had the capacity to work tirelessly on whatever task to which she applied herself. She did what needed to be done because it was what had to be done. She demonstrated a level of commitment to her church, family and party that exceeded the expectations of those who sought her assistance. Mrs. Fowler did not have to be asked to undertake a task. It was as if she knew exactly what needed to be done and went about achieving it, and did so without complaining or without any expectation of reward. She was a dedicated and diligent soldier, fighting in her own way for a cause to which she was always devoted.
Mrs. Fowler represented all that is good about Bahamians: ever mindful of the needs of others, unselfish, altruistic and concerned about her fellow Bahamians. She was the personification of so many unsung heroes in cities and settlements strewn across the vast archipelago of The Bahamas. It is persons like Rosemary Fowler who made it possible for so many of our leaders to rise above the noise and fray and to be imbued with the confidence that persons like Mrs. Fowler always "had their backs" in the worst of times so they could forge the best of times.
Mrs. Fowler's contribution and legacy were recognized on Thursday past, when her mortal remains lay in state and she was honored at the Lynden Pindling Center, eulogized by senior party members including Mr. Errington "Minky" Isaacs, chairman emeritus, yours truly, the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin, the deputy prime minister and the prime minister. Mrs. Fowler would have been extremely pleased by the plaudits that were proffered by those who appreciated her indomitable spirit.
Conclusion
Today's body politic is sadly lacking individuals like Mrs. Fowler, selfless and committed to serving our society in a quiet but profound way. What our 21st century Bahamas needs, especially our political world, is to return to values that shaped people like her, honed her decency and dedication to her beliefs until she shone like gold amidst the brass of the crowd. Mrs. Fowler was truly a quiet hero of the quiet revolution. Simply put: we need more like her. The flower that we called Fowler will truly be missed.
o Philip C. Galanis is the managing partner of HLB Galanis and Co., Chartered Accountants, Forensic & Litigation Support Services. He served 15 years in Parliament. Please send your comments to pgalanis@gmail.com.

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