Obituary of Glenford Emmanuel Henry

OBITUARY FOR GLENFORD EMMANUEL HENRY Glenford Emmanuel Henry, affectionately known as either “Glen” or “Dougie”, was born on July 14, 1945, in Retreat, St. Mary, Jamaica, West Indies. He was the son of Charles Henry and Lottie Jones. He was blessed to be the last child of 13. He cherished all his siblings: Richard, Enos, James, Rudolph, Trevor, Peter, Renford, Gerald, Joyce, Verna, Blanche and Gervos. Glen attended Retreat All Age School where he excelled in academics and the sports of cricket. Throughout his youthful phase he also attended the Retreat Anglican Church where he was a choir member and altar boy. He faithfully served the congregation and remained attached to the Christian faith all his life. After completing school, he did the exam for the police academy and was successful in gaining acceptance. At the Academy he completed training in Law Enforcement and became a member of the Jamaican Constabulary Force. He worked in various parts of the country and did so well that he was selected to be outrider to then (Jamaican), Prime Minister Hugh Lawson Shearer in the sixties. During this period, he was bit by the travel bug and decided to migrate to America, as was the trend of that time. He came to the Bronx, New York in 1970, where he became a fan of the Yankees, Knicks, and professional wrestling. In 1971, he came to Boston, Massachusetts. He had odd jobs until he settled in a career as a meat cutter that he loved and made it a lifetime occupation. He always remembered being missed by the prime minister who told him that he was leaving his country to become a second-class citizen in America. He however, made a great contribution to America through his generosity and lodge activities. Dougie worked for 30 years as a meat cutter for Star Market, working at several locations from Dorchester to Waltham. He retired in 2008. Dougie was initiated in December, 1976 as a member of Blazing Star Lodge #7 under the Brooklyn District Grand Lodge #1 of the Independent United Order of Mechanics Western Hemisphere Friendly Society, Inc. He was a founding member of Mt. Horeb Lodge #10, Boston, Massachusetts and was instrumental in the formation of St. Johns Grand Christian Encampment where he was elected as the first Eminent Grand Commander. On November 4, 1999, the Past Grand Master Degree was conferred on him in Brooklyn, New York at the Mechanics’ World Headquarters. He was involved in promoting community events and the recipient of several fraternal awards. Dougie loved music and dancing. Under the name “Numero Uno”, he could keep the party going. His laughter was infectious and can be heard wherever he was. On January 30, 2022, Dougie passed away at the age of 76. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Joan; his daughter, Donna; his sons, Mark, Roger, and Gary; granddaughter, Michella; and grandsons, Gary Jr., Kaniel Jacob-Cross and Gabriel Emmanuel Jacob-Cross.