Maizie Barker-Welch

Dame Maizie Irene Barker-Welch DBE ( Barker; 17 September 1927 – 28 August 2024) was a Barbadian woman's rights activist and member of parliament.

She was born Mazie Irene Barker into a family of clergy, the eldest of 12 children of Rev. Frank H. Barker, a schoolteacher, and his wife, Athalie Aurora Barker ( Padmore). Her younger brother, Rev. Frank A. Barker, and nephew the Rev. Kirk Barker, were also ministers.

She was elected in 1986 as a member of the House of Assembly, and also served in the Senate and Cabinet. She was elected in the DLP landslide of 1986, representing the constituency of St Joseph. She was President of the (Barbados) National Organisation of Women,

Death and honours Dame Maizie Barker-Welch died at the age of 96. The local media, Barbados Today, called her a "distinguished educator, politician, advocate for women’s rights, and influential public servant".

Honours and awards On 1 January 2014, for the New Year Honours, she was appointed as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) "for services to national, regional and international advocation for the rights of women."