Gombey Festival Posthumous Honourees, October 2024
Carolyn Isabell Louise Hendrickson
March 10, 1941 – April 1, 2024
Together, Carolyn Hendrickson and her son Lawrence “Stickers” Hendrickson, Jr., represent a powerful legacy of love, dedication, and a deep connection to Bermuda’s Gombey culture. Their shared passion for family, community, and the vibrant rhythms of Bermuda’s traditions will forever resonate with the people who knew them and the cultural landscape they enriched.
Carolyn’s Journey
Affectionately known as “Granny,” Carolyn Hendrickson’s love for Gombey culture began in her childhood. Raised on Princess Street alongside her nine siblings, she spent her days chasing the Gombeys with her sister Olive and their friends. Their excitement for the sound of the drums was undeniable, often sneaking away to follow the Gombeys—an act that brought consequences from their mother but nurtured an indelible passion.
It was this passion for Gombeys that led Carolyn to her husband, Lawrence “Stickers” Hendrickson, Sr., a Gombey dancer himself. Married on September 24, 1959, at just 18 years old, Carolyn and Lawrence Sr. built a life rooted in family and culture. They raised three children— Laurie, Lawrence “Stickers” Jr., and Lisa—becoming pillars of their Glebe Road and North Village communities.
Over the years, Carolyn devoted herself to being a “Granny” not just to her own grandchildren but to many family and community children, becoming known for her nurturing care and playful presence.
Carolyn’s role in the Gombey community was both active and essential. She supported the family troupe founded in 1989, originally named H&N (Hendrickson & Nesbitt), which was later renamed H&H (Hendrickson & Hendrickson) Gombeys. Known for her hands-on involvement, Carolyn skilfully crafted Gombey suits for her grandsons and meticulously designed Gombey dolls, until glaucoma forced her to give up the beloved craft. However, her dedication to the Gombey tradition never faltered. She remained a constant presence at Gombey training sessions, offering her candid feedback, and showing her unwavering support.
In her later years, Carolyn could often be found sitting at her kitchen window with binoculars, watching cruise ships dock in Dockyard or observing children playing at Pigs Field. Though she became physically distant from being on the road with her Gombeys that she once chased, her spirit remained rooted in the rhythms of the island’s culture.
Lawrence Withfield “Stickers” Hendrickson, Jr.
April 21, 1962 – November 14, 1993
Stickers Jr.’ Journey
Lawrence Withfield “Stickers” Hendrickson, Jr., born on April 21, 1962, inherited his parents’ deep love for the Gombeys. By the age of four, Stickers was already mastering the drums, his natural talent clear to all who heard him. At five years old, he performed in the Easter parade with the North Village Junior Band, seamlessly falling into rhythm—a skill that would define much of his life.
Stickers Jr. was not only a talented drummer but also a gifted athlete, playing football with North Village Community Club from the age of six. His dedication to his club and teammates reflected his loyalty to both family and community, values instilled by his mother.
In 1989, on the same date as his parents’ 30th wedding anniversary, Stickers Jr. married his childhood sweetheart, Tammy. Together, they raised two sons, Zane and Zaniko, with Stickers Jr. taking immense pride in being both a loving husband and dedicated father.
Alongside his father, Stickers Sr., he helped out in many Gombey troupes over the years. His final group before co-founding H&N was Place’s Gombeys. Stickers Jr. was widely regarded to be a master of the snare drum and taught many drummers over the years. He contributed his own flavour to the patterns that can still be heard in H&H Gombeys today from his son Zaniko as lead drummer.
In 1993, Stickers Jr. achieved his dream of leading the H&H troupe to ten victories at the Gombey Competition, a crowning moment in his cultural legacy. In addition to his Gombey involvement, Stickers Jr. was an avid Comet sailor and served as Vice-Commodore of the Mid-Atlantic Boat Club, exemplifying his commitment to leadership and teamwork in both sports and culture.
A Shared Legacy
For both Carolyn and Stickers Jr., the Gombey drums were not just a sound but a heartbeat. Carolyn was the steady matriarch, nurturing a generation of Gombey dancers, while Stickers Jr. was the vibrant force, keeping the rhythm alive. Their legacies intertwine in the beat of the drum and in the hearts of their family and community.
As we honour Carolyn and Stickers Jr., we also remember Lawrence “Stickers” Hendrickson, Sr., the 2005 Gombey Festival honouree, who passed in 2017.
Together, their spirits remain ever-present, their footsteps forever in rhythm with the drums, and their legacy continues to inspire the Gombey tradition for generations to come.
