Valda C Hendricks

Valda Catcheta Hendricks was born to Gertrude Maitland and Noel Deer on November 26, 1927. She was married to Septimus Constantine Hendricks who preceded her in death on September 30,1982. She was survived by all 7 of her children: Morlan “Trevor” Houston (wife Joy), Monica “Lorna” Patterson (husband Lascelles), Jonathan “Johnny” Hendricks (wife Lillian), Linval “Earl” Hendricks (wife Carmen), Linette “Bev” Hendricks, Caleb “Ding” Hendricks, Donna Hendricks, 32 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren.

Valda had a genuine and deeply love her children. She cared for and raised all 7 of her children and a few of her grandchildren despite her husband being severely disabled after some years of marriage.

Valda, more commonly known as “Mama” by her family, spent most of her adult years in the parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica. There, she was a seamstress by profession and an excellent one who used her talent to serve her community and take care of her family. Mama even taught many of the young women in the community how to sew and did so free of charge. She had an amazing love for education which moved her to dedicate some of her time at the primary school that was in her area and took it upon herself to sew costumes for kids at the school. She would share her knowledge of specific topics when asked to do so and gave her thoughts and concerns on how to better the school and educational system.

Moreover, Mama had a special love for the English language even though she did not have a formal education. On many occasions Mama would use words that many of her kids and grandkids would find unusual and amusing and this would even make them “giggle”. Thinking they were not real words, they would find out later in life that the dictionary was, in fact, on her side. Mama was ahead of her time and would quote phrases that most of her peers were unfamiliar with. She would recite a particular saying from the musical group, Ruby and the Romantics, when her children faced difficult times and life became challenging: “Your day will come” and this was to encourage them that better times are ahead.

If anyone met Mama, they would all strongly say that she was a disciplinarian. She disciplined all children; her children and even your children. Adults were not exempt from this discipline either. It can be said that “no one escaped discipline when stepping out of line with Mama”

Mama had an even greater love for a different kind of education - divine education. This love all started in the mid-1970s when she was introduced to Jehovah’s Witnesses through the door-to-door ministry while she was searching for something different in religion. Even though she loved what she was learning it was a challenge for her to get to the meetings because she would have to travel many miles on foot with her young granddaughter. However, this did not stop her from putting forth the effort to make it to the Kingdom Hall. After many years of studying with the Witnesses, Valda eventually moved to the United States in the summer of 1986 and four years later, she dedicated her life to Jehovah, and she got baptized on June 9th, 1990.

During this time, she became an avid reader of the Bible and other publications. She was known for being a student of God’s Word. And her love for God’s Word has led many of her family members to also learn the truth. Although life was full of many challenges, Valda made sure to put Jehovah and her family first.

Of course, it’s never easy to capture a lifetime in just a few paragraphs of a biography especially a lifetime that spanned over 90 years, but we do hope that with what was said today, all would come to know a little more about our dear mother and grandmother.

A visitation for Valda will be held Friday, September 23, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Fountainhead Funeral Home, 7359 Babcock Street SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909. A funeral service will occur Friday, September 23, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 7359 Babcock Street SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909. A committal service will occur Friday, September 23, 2022 from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM, 7359 Babcock Street SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FountainheadFuneralHome.com for the Hendricks family.