Verma Panton
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| Born | Verma Wevlyn Panton (1936-04-17)17 April 1936
St. Elizabeth, Colony of Jamaica, British Empire
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| Died | 18 January 2015(2015-01-18) (aged 78)
Jamaica
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| Occupation | architect |
| Years active | 1964–2015 |
| Known for | First female architect of the Anglo-Caribbean and Jamaica |
Verma Wevlyn Panton (17 April 1936 – 18 January 2015) was a Jamaican architect, the first female architect of the Anglo-Caribbean.[1]
Panton was born 17 April 1936 in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica to Laura Louise[2] (née Walker)[1] and Vernon George Panton.[2] Verma has two sisters: Faith (Baba) Panton and Sheila C Panton and one brother Cedrick Landale Leroy Panton. Faith died of cancer on October 31, 1991 in a nursing home in Santa Monica, CA USA. Faith and Sheila were never married and had no children. Verma has two nephews: Cedric Vernon Panton and Corrado L Panton, and one niece Brenda Panton. She attended elementary school at Claremont Primary School and then went to both Carvalho’s High School and Ardenne High School in Jamaica.[1] Having completed her secondary education, she worked from 1956 to 1958 as an Assistant Land Surveyor in the Survey Department, when she won a government scholarship to further her education.[1] Panton attended McGill University School of Architecture in Montreal, Quebec, Canada[3] graduating as the first female architect in Jamaica as well as in the West Indies.[1][2][4]
Returning to Jamaica in 1964, Panton became a Project Architect for the Ministry of Education until 1968, when she joined as an Associate Partner with the firm of McMorris, Sibley, Robinson (MSR).[1] In 1974, she chaired the committee to organize the Pan American Federation of Architects Conference. Panton left MSR in 1982 and became a Partner and the Director of the Landmark Development Company, where she remained for the next two years, leaving in 1984 to open her own practice.[2] She was one of the founding members of the Jamaican Architects Registration Board which was formed in 1987 and served in various capacities of leadership.[5]
Panton received numerous awards for her work, including Honourable Mention in two Low Income Housing Design Competitions: the 1967 event sponsored by Wood Preservation Co. Ltd. and the 1973 event sponsored by Redimix Concrete Ltd. In 1985, she was honoured with a Certificate of Recognition for Pioneer Woman in Architecture and Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Architecture. The Jamaican Institute of Architects recognized her 20 years of service in 1987.[1]
Panton died on 18 January 2015 in Jamaica.[citation needed]
