Eva Middleton

Middleton was born in Punta Gorda.^[1] She lived in Lake Independence and was involved in various community activities and was a co-founder of Breast is Best (BIB).^[1][2] BIB helped promote breastfeeding with new mothers, provided information and breast pump rental.^[3] She also worked in San Antonio, Cayo as a polyclinic administrator.^[4]

Middleton returned to Belize City in 2010 and began to work as a disability rights activist.^[5] Middleton became a leader and driving force behind the disability rights organization, the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities (BAPDA).^[6] Middleton turned BAPDA, a dormant organization, into one that had around 400 members.^[5] She was considered the "voice and face of BAPDA," according to BAPDA president, Roxanne Anthony Marin.^[6] As an advocate, she made multiple calls to Belize morning shows, sharing various activities carried out by BAPDA.^[1] She was known for her lectures during Disability Week.^[5] Middleton helped organize prosthesis clinics in Belize with BAPDA, partnering with Prosthetic Hope International Belize.^[7] Middleton herself was an amputee and had a prosthetic leg.^[7]

Later, Middleton co-founded create Living Independently in Full Existence (LIFE), an organization to aid the elderly in the country.^[1] Today, LIFE is managed by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.^[1]

Middleton died at age 65 on March 25, 2018, in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where she was being treated following a stroke.^[1] She was buried in Lord Ridge Cemetery.^[1]