Merton Council is deeply saddened by the passing of Councillor and former Mayor Councillor Marsie Skeete, who served the borough with warmth, dedication and distinction for twelve years.
Marsie was elected as a councillor for Longthornton Ward in 2014, having already given years of voluntary service to her community through the Mitcham and Morden Labour Party and the Guyana UK Social Development Association.
She went on to hold several significant roles, including Cabinet Member for Women and Equalities and Chair of the Joint Consultative Committee with Ethnic Minority Organisations. She also served as Mayor of Merton for the 2017-18 municipal year, a role she embraced with characteristic energy and style.
Council Leader Councillor Ross Garrod pays tribute to her life and work.
We are deeply saddened by the news that Councillor Marsie Skeete has passed away. In her 12 years of service at Merton Council, Councillor Skeete made a valuable contribution to the people of Longthornton and our borough as a whole.
Many will remember her for her unwavering commitment to supporting vulnerable residents during the pandemic – making sure they could access the right support at a critical time.
Councillor Skeete was passionate about raising awareness of mental health issues and raised money for local charities Merton Mencap and the Commonside Community Development Trust to improve the lives of local people.
As Mayor of Merton, she held numerous fundraising events, engaged with schools across the borough, and represented the council at over 300 events alongside the Deputy Mayor.
On behalf of all of us at Merton Council, I extend our deepest condolences to Councillor Skeete’s family and friends at this difficult time.
Born and raised in Guyana, Marsie built her career around education and rehabilitation, working as a lecturer of English at HMP High Down among other roles. That commitment to giving people a second chance ran through everything she did. During the pandemic, she worked tirelessly to ensure vulnerable residents were not left behind and received the support they needed.
As Mayor, she chose Merton Mencap and the Commonside Community Development Trust as her two charities, raising significant funds through a packed programme of events that reflected her personality, from a Guyana Night and Charity Ball to a Winter Warmer concert and a 70s Disco Party. Together with her Deputy Mayor, Councillor Judy Saunders, she attended over 300 engagements during her mayoral year.
Marsie is remembered by those who knew her as a vivid, joyful presence who brought life to every room she entered and went the extra mile for every cause she believed in.
She will be greatly missed.