The event, held ahead of a memorial service scheduled for Saturday, July 26, at the Lady of Fatima Church in La Clery, served as both a remembrance and a joyful reflection of a remarkable life.

Professor Simmons-McDonald, a distinguished academic and cultural icon, spent much of her professional life outside of Saint Lucia; however, those who knew her say her heart always remained deeply rooted in her homeland.

Her niece, Lyndel Archibald, expressed the deep admiration and love that resonated throughout the evening.

“This evening showed by many persons their love for Ayo, as we called her. Every time I attend something or I hear something about Ayo, I learn so much more about who she is and what she's contributed. She spent so much time away from Saint Lucia… so we've gotten to learn a lot of her accomplishments from gatherings of this nature and from tributes and eulogies,” Archibald said.

Cultural archivist Monsignor Patrick Anthony emphasised Simmons-McDonald’s enduring connection to Saint Lucia despite her years abroad.

“She died in Barbados, and she lived in Barbados, but her heart was in Saint Lucia. Her family wanted her remains here in Saint Lucia… so it was an opportunity for us in Saint Lucia to show her appreciation. We give them this traditional way of thanking them, of celebrating their lives, and of comforting the family.”

The evening was designed not as a somber farewell but as a vibrant celebration, in keeping with Simmons-McDonald’s love for culture and the arts.

Leslie Crane-Mitchell, Head of the UWI Global Campus, described the event as a fitting tribute. “We thought that it would be wonderful this evening to celebrate her life, to have a sort of a wake where we could share memories of her, tell jokes, sing, dance, and just celebrate her life,” Crane-Mitchell said.

“She was, as many people know, an expert in the Creole language. She loved to sing, she loved to dance, she was part of the Arts Guild. And so we just wanted to celebrate as she would have celebrated.”