Roy James
Henry was born on November 3, 1944, to Verna and Joseph Henry in Islington,
St. Mary. He received his early schooling at the Water Valley Elementary School
and the St. George’s Extension School. He came to faith and was baptised at the
Maranatha Gospel Assembly and, after meeting Rev. Dr. Leo Rhynie, pastor of the
East Queen Street Baptist Church, he became a member of that church.
His graduation from the Jamaica Police Academy in 1962 preceded seven years of service in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, during which he worshipped at the East Queen Street Baptist Church. Professing a call to the ministry, he was accepted by the Jamaica Baptist Union and received ministerial training at the United Theological College of the West Indies (UTCWI), 1969-1973.
While he was a student at UTCWI, he met his future wife, Lorna, who was a nursing student at the University Hospital of the West Indies, when they participated in a hiking trip to Cane River Falls. They were married in 1973 immediately after graduation from UTCWI and were exemplary partners in the service of God’s people.
In 1973, the Henrys journeyed to Thompson Town, where they commenced their ministry. While serving in Thompson Town, Henry pursued the Master of Arts in Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, graduating in 1986. In 1988, he participated in an advanced leadership course at the training centre of the Haggai International Institute in Singapore.
Henry served as a minister of the Jamaica Baptist Union for 43 years. He was pastor in the Thompson Town Circuit (1973-1989) with five churches – Thompson Town, Smithville, Brandon Hill, Leicesterfield and Elgin, and three missions – Bloomwell, Coffee Piece and Bethel. The circuit paid tribute to him as a man who was “dedicated, devoted, dynamic, nurturing, calm, confident, courageous, punctual and disciplined.”
Accepting a call extended by the East Queen Street Circuit of Baptist, Henry assumed the pastorate there in 1989 and served the three churches of the circuit, viz., East Queen Street, Denham Town and Delacree Park churches, for 27 years.
At his funeral, the circuit praised his passion for evangelism and his compassion, love, faithfulness, humility, dedication and commitment to the honour and glory of God.
Beyond his work
in the pastorate, Henry served on several committees of the JBU, including the
Executive Committee for more than 20 years, and the Ministerial Care Committee.
He was also a Superintendent Minister. In 1991, the JBU Assembly elected him JBU
president. He served as such from 1991 to 1994.
As a marriage officer, Henry officiated at more than 1,500 couples and people celebrated his contribution to the restoration of peace to several communities in the business district of Kingston.
In 2020, Henry was conferred with the national honour, Order of Distinction, Commander Class (CD) for exceptional contribution to Religion and Community Development.
On Thursday, March 17, 2022, Henry passed away at his daughter’s residence in Canada where he was receiving medical care. He died in the presence of his wife and family members.
Paying tribute to him at the
time of his passing, the National Prayer Vigil Committee, said:
“His style of leadership was
clearly not dictatorial but was very democratic, engaging and one in which each
member of the committee felt very comfortable. We found him to be a man of high
integrity, respectful, peaceful, punctual and principled. He was very
knowledgeable about the necessary protocols for each event and as a committee
we are grateful for the valuable lessons we learnt from him. He held firmly to
the theme of the National Prayer Vigil which is “Justice…Unity…Peace…Healing”
and it was always his vision that Jamaica can become a more gentle, peaceful
and united nation. It is often said that laughter is medicine. Our Chairman was
very jovial and had the ability to laugh heartily and from time to time he
would have us laughing.”
Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley, then Acting JBU General Secretary, declared, “We celebrate a life well lived, even as we mourn the loss of a faithful servant of God. The Jamaica Baptist Union extends our deepest condolence to his widow Lorna, and children Leighton, Rusheyne and Dale, as well as his grandchildren, as they mourn the loss of a husband, father and grandfather,”