Elsada Jean Hendricks

Elsada Jean Hendricks, or Ms. Jean as she was affectionally called, was born on May 1, 1953 in Saint Mary Jamaica, near Highgate.

Her life and upbringing in Jamaica were humble and she took on various jobs to support her family including as a cigar selector at the Gradiaz Annis Cigar Factory which is a   subsidiary of General Cigar Company in the United States. She loved to travel and acquired a visa to Panama in the 1960’s where she bought goods to sell to her coworkers and friends in Jamaica. This was the beginning of her entrepreneurial ways. Looking for the next opportunity to better herself and her family, when she had the opportunity to come to the United States in the 1970’s she took advantage of this.

When Ms. Jean immigrated to the United States, she settled in Flatbush Brooklyn. Ms. Jean started a school bus service with one white van in the 1980’s as a way to both look after her newborn baby and help other families charter their children to and from school. This business grew and was prosperous with Ms. Jean acquiring 3 vans over the years. Ms. Jean had a loving and nurturing nature, and this translated into her loving and being supportive of every child that passed thru her bus service. The business was also one of the greatest loves of her life, as she got to engage with children and see their growth from young elementary school students to middle and high school young adults, and onwards to successful and well-mannered adults.

Ms. Jean expanded her business in the late 1990’s to include charter bus services throughout the northeast United States and this was an exciting opportunity for her. She obtained her commercial drivers license and enjoyed all aspects of the business process from marketing and promotion of the business to driving the bus and engaging with    clients.

Over the last 37 years, Ms. Jean had three addresses within a three-block radius in Brooklyn and was well known and respected as the mother figure within her community. Her friends and neighbors always looked out for her white van, and she loved to engage with everyone. Everyone she encountered on the block or within the community was boobie or sweetie, and she would never pass by a neighbor without inquiring how they were and offering assistance of some kind. Ms. Jean was always trying to spread love and encouragement and she will always be remembered for this.

Ms. Jean joined The Rugby Deliverance Tabernacle in 2012 and has been an active member. She loved to celebrate God thru reading the bible, fellowshipping with church members, singing hymns, and encouraging her family to maintain a relationship with and trust God.

Ms. Jean is preceded in death by her parents Arnold Carson and Adaline Hyde, her sister, niece and nephew, and two children.

Ms. Jean leaves to mourn her beloved children Iris Grant and Robert Taylor, grandchildren Samuel and Saymon, niece, adopted children from the community, church family, and many friends and associates.

Ms. Jean was well loved and she will be greatly missed. Sleep in peace and know that you will always be remembered and loved. 

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