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Edna May Williston Best

1880 – 1923

Canadian activist

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About Edna May Williston Best

Lived 1880 – 1923 (aged 43). Edna May Williston Best was a Canadian activist.

Edna May Williston Sexton ( Best; June 25, 1880 – December 14, 1923) was a social activist and war worker born in Shediac, New Brunswick and died in Halifax, Nova Scotia at age 43.

Best was orphaned at an early age and raised by family in Boston. She obtained an honours science degree from MIT and married another graduate, Frederick Henry Sexton, who became a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax. As a faculty wife she became fully involved in many organizations they supported, one of the most important being the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire. She served a term as the first municipal regent. She was aggressively involved in women's issues revolving around education and the roles of women.

Sexton is mainly remembered in Canadian history through her involvement in the war effort. The Local Council of Women of Halifax spearheaded an intense war effort from that city and the whole province and Sexton was a leading force.

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Important facts

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People in Edna May Williston Best's life

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Frequently asked questions

Who was Edna May Williston Best?

Canadian activist

When was Edna May Williston Best born?

Edna May Williston Best was born on 25 June 1880 in Shediac.

When did Edna May Williston Best die?

Edna May Williston Best died on 14 December 1923.

What was Edna May Williston Best's occupation?

Edna May Williston Best was an activist.

What nationality was Edna May Williston Best?

Edna May Williston Best was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Edna May Williston Best

· Wikidata: Q5340076

· DBpedia: May Best Sexton

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Edna May Williston Best. https://biography.guide/edna-may-williston-best/

MLA: "Edna May Williston Best." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/edna-may-williston-best/.

Chicago: "Edna May Williston Best." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/edna-may-williston-best/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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