Sybil Louise Coakley-Strachan, the eldest child of Roderick and Mary (nee Johnson) Strachan, was born at Fresh Creek, Andros on September 2nd, 1927. Strachan's teaching career began at the age of seventeen when she was posted at the Quarry Mission School where she remained for six years. Two years later, she moved to Southern Preparatory number two serving for one year. Strachan was transferred to
Naomi Blatch Primary School. Her tenure lasted nineteen years. During this period, in 1962, she obtained a Teaching Certificate from The Bahamas Teacher's College. Strachan became the Principal of Carmichael Primary School in 1973 when it was located on Golden Isles Road where the current Detention Centre is now situated. At Carmichael Primary, Mrs. Strachan was known as a firm leader with excellent planning and motivational skills. She galvanized local community leaders and parents to transform the physical structure and premises at the old site. Her efforts inspired the Honourable Paul Adderley, the Minister of Education at the time, to designate the plot of land for a new campus facility. She was very instrumental in the establishment of the Carmichael Primary School now named Sybil Strachan Primary School. While leading the administration team at Carmichael, Mrs. Strachan pursued a Bachelor's degree in Education from the College of St. Benedict, Minnesota, which she obtained in 1982. She was a committed community leader and helped to enhance the social life of the students by establishing clubs like Girl Guides and Brownies. Strachan remained the Principal of Carmichael Primary School for seventeen years before going on to Claridge Primary School serving from 1990 until she retired front he public service in 1993 after forty-eight years of dedicated service. Upon her retirement from the public service, Mrs. Strachan continued her teaching career supervising preschool aged children at the St. Agnes Parish Day-School in 1994. The following year, 1995, with her input, the Day-School received accreditation to be elevated to St. Agnes Parish Pre-School, registered under the Ministry of Education's Preschool Administration. Strachan retired from active teaching in September of 2007, having spent a total of thirteen years in the pre-school system. Education was truly a career for Mrs. Strachan who committed 61 years of her life to this noble profession. Strachan was a devoted and active member of St. Agnes Anglican Parish and served as the fourth President of the Anglican Church Women auxiliary. She was a member of the Girl Guides Association, The Bahamas Red Cross Society, The Bahamas Humane Society, The Ranfurly Home for Children Committee, The Golden Days Association and the President of The Bahamas African Violet Society - horticulture group. On Saturday May 31st, 2008, Mrs. Strachan was honoured by the Zonta Club of New Providence as a Living Legend. Strachan and her husband, Courtney had five children. She died on May 18th, 2010 at the age of eighty-two.
