{"id":2901,"date":"2026-10-11T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wolmers.org\/trust\/uncategorized\/balford-henry-funeral-20261011\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T23:27:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T23:27:53","slug":"balford-henry-funeral-20261011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wolmers.org\/trust\/trust-obituaries\/balford-henry-funeral-20261011\/","title":{"rendered":"Funeral service for veteran journalist Balford Henry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Balford Henry died on Monday 14 September 2026, aged 74. He entered journalism in 1971 while in sixth form at Wolmer\u2019s Boys\u2019 School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funeral service for veteran journalist Balford Henry this Saturday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Jamaica Gleaner<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 8, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Late
Late veteran journalist Balford Henry Jamaica Gleaner, October 8, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The funeral service for veteran journalist Balford Henry will be held on Saturday, October 10, at 11:00 am at Kencot Christian Fellowship in St Andrew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interment will follow at Dovecot Memorial Park in St Catherine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A wake will be held on Friday, October 9, at 19 Debbie Avenue in Edgewater, Portmore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry, 74, died in hospital on Monday, September 14 following a brief illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is being remembered for more than five decades of journalism, covering Parliament, politics, industrial relations, the economy and entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His career began at The Gleaner in 1971 and included work with The Jamaica Observer and the Jamaica Information Service, as well as media organisations in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer in 2011 for his contribution to journalism. He also received several Press Association of Jamaica awards, including recognition for his coverage of reggae icon Bob Marley\u2019s funeral in 1981.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although recently retired, Henry continued writing freelance for The Jamaica Observer until his death, leaving behind a distinguished legacy in Jamaican journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Jamaica Gleaner<\/a>, October 8, 2026. Republished for the Wolmer\u2019s Trust community with attribution.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gov’t officials, journalists pay last respect to Balford Henry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Jamaica Gleaner<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 10, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"President
President of the Senate Tom Tavares Finson signs the condolence book for late veteran journalist Balford Henry. Photo – Antoine Lodge Jamaica Gleaner, October 10, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Kimone
Kimone Francis (left), vice president of the Press Association of Jamaica, and Taneisha Mundle, senior journalist at the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, view the body of late veteran journalist Balford Henry before the start of his funeral ceremony at the Kencot Christian Fellowship Church in St Andrew on Saturday. Photo – Antoine Lodge Jamaica Gleaner, October 10, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"State
State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Delano Franklin consoles Shai-Ann Henry, daughter of late veteran journalist Balford Henry, before the start of the funeral service on Saturday. Photo – Antoine Lodge Jamaica Gleaner, October 10, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Government officials joined members of the media fraternity on Saturday for the funeral service of late veteran journalist Balford Henry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service was held at the Kencot Christian Fellowship Church in St Andrew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those present were Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange, Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, President of the Senate Tom Tavares Finson, and Government Member of Parliament Duane Smith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry’s colleagues, Kimone Francis, vice president of the Press Association of Jamaica, and Taneisha Mundle, a senior journalist at the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, were also present along Claudia Henry, the widow of the late journalist, and his daughter, Shai-Ann.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Jamaica Gleaner<\/a>, October 10, 2026. Republished for the Wolmer\u2019s Trust community with attribution.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balford Henry\u2019s final byline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Renae Osbourne<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 11, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Balford
Balford Henry, born on January 24, 1952 and died on September 14, 2026, was laid to rest on Saturday. He was 74. Jamaica Observer, October 11, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Minister
Minister of Culture, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange (third right) is seen among mourners at the thanksgiving service for the life of Balford Henry on Saturday along with (from right) St Andrew North Western Member of Parliament (MP) Duane Smith, St Andrew North Central MP Delano Seiveright, and Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson. The funeral was held at Kencot Christian Fellowship in St Andrew. Jamaica Observer, October 11, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Clarence
Clarence Brodie, former president of the Press Association of Jamaica, delivers a tribute during the thanksgiving service for the life of Balford Henry held at Kencot Christian Fellowship in St Andrew on Saturday. Jamaica Observer, October 11, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Garfield
Garfield Angus, a senior journalist at JIS and a colleague and friend of the late Balford Henry, shares fond memories during his tribute at the thanksgiving service on Saturday at Kencot Christian Fellowship in St Andrew. Jamaica Observer, October 11, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Claudia
Claudia Stockhausen-Henry, ex-wife of the late veteran journalist Balford Henry, delivers a tribute during the thanksgiving service to celebrate his life on Saturday at Kencot Christian Fellowship in St Andrew. (Photos: Karl Mclarty) Jamaica Observer, October 11, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018The copy is clean, the story complete\u2019 as colleagues, family, friends say farewell to veteran journalist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WRITTEN not by the hand nor the wit of the illustrious veteran journalist Balford Henry but by the enduring ink of a remarkable legacy, his final story finds its authors in the colleagues and family whose tributes attest to the mark he left on their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gathered on Saturday at Kencot Christian Fellowship in St Andrew for the thanksgiving service for his life, mourners reflected on a career spanning more than five decades during which Henry meticulously documented Jamaica\u2019s political, entertainment, and industrial affairs, and cemented his reputation as a respected pillar of the media fraternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivering her tribute, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia Grange remembered Henry as the consummate journalist \u2014 a man who was dedicated to his career, building a life around expertly sharing facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJamaica has long been regarded as a liberal democracy within which resides a diverse and active corps of journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within that corps, however, is a much smaller number of these professionals whose work has truly helped to elevate public awareness and understanding about the role and the actual workings of our Parliament, the decisions made by our elected and appointed representatives, and the electoral process itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBalford Henry was such a man, a man who, through meticulous thoroughness, sheer hard work, ceaseless enquiry, and a longevity that reflected his lifelong dedication to his calling, developed into a towering figure in the field of journalism,\u201d noted Grange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry\u2019s career took root at The Gleaner in 1971 and included work with the Jamaica Observer and the Jamaica Information Service (JIS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was also editor of Reggae Times in the 1990s and reporter for the Overseas Gleaner (North America Edition) in New York during the 90s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His trailblazing work in media earned him several Press Association of Jamaica awards, including recognition for his coverage of reggae icon Bob Marley\u2019s funeral in 1981.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2011 he was nationally recognised for his contribution to journalism with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeking to ensure that Henry\u2019s words would endure not only in memory but also through the body of work he produced over his many years as a journalist, Grange told the congregation that she would pursue the preservation of his writings through national cultural institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am going to speak to the National Library [of Jamaica] and the Jamaica Music Museum about working towards collecting Balford\u2019s writings on the entertainment industry over the years, because he did his research, and his work [is] something that is worth establishing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garfield Angus, a senior journalist at JIS and a colleague and friend of \u2018Bally\u2019s \u2014 as he was affectionately called \u2014 also shared anecdotes from their time together throughout the years. His tribute highlighted not only Henry\u2019s many achievements, but also the man behind them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we gather to say goodbyes and to give thanks, not only to the journalist Bally but to the human being he remained, we give thanks for his wit, for his wisdom, for his integrity, for the debates, for his laughter, for the stories, for the friendship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBally, you served your profession and your country and your friends exceptionally well. You wrote your final column and the copy is clean. The story is complete, the byline remains, and the legacy endures,\u201d said Angus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a tearful tribute to her ex-husband, Claudia Stockhausen-Henry told those who gathered about their love story that legally ended in 2006 but lasted until Henry\u2019s last breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emotionally recounting his last days, Stockhausen-Henry shared how she stuck by his side and cared for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI heard when he took his last breath and made a rattling sound. It was a good Samaritan who offered to drive the car to KPH [Kingston Public Hospital], where he was pronounced dead. To Bally, I am always his wife. He hates to hear me say \u2018ex-wife\u2019. Here endeth our love story,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other tributes were heard from Clarence Brodie, former president of the Press Association of Jamaica, and friend of the deceased, Ainsley Edwards. Also in attendance was Delano Seiveright, minister of state in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry was born on January 24, 1952 and died on September 14, 2026. He was 74.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Jamaica Observer<\/a>, October 11, 2026. Republished for the Wolmer\u2019s Trust community with attribution.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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