Carolyn Denise Jenkins
26 January 1958 – 11 July 2024
Carolyn Denise Jenkins became an ancestor on 11 July 2024 at the age of 66 while residing Brooklyn, NY. A lifelong dancer, artist, performer, and teacher, she impacted many communities. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
Carolyn was born in New Haven, CT to Pearl Reeves Jenkins and foster parents, Hosea Jenkins and Frances Brown Jenkins. She travelled widely and made community across the world– in St. Thomas and St. Croix, USVI; Sint Maarten; Boston, MA; Loiza, Puerto Rico; Guadeloupe; Baltimore, MD, Detroit, Michigan; Brooklyn, NY and New Haven, CT.
Carolyn graduated from the Educational Center for the Arts (ECA) and High School in the Community in 1975, the Radiology (A.S) program at Gateway Technical College in 1993 and Johns Hopkins School of Diagnostic Imaging certificate program in 2000. She worked at Roy L. Schneider Hospital in St. Thomas and Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. Being a healthcare professional was one of her vocations, however her real passion was dance, theater, videography and the arts.
She completed her early dance training in ballet, jazz and West and Central African Dance at Bowen-Peters School of Dance in New Haven (1965-1975). She also trained and performed with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater with a scholarship (1980-1981) and the Afro American Studio for Acting and Speech in Harlem (1975- 1982). She studied in Sierra Leone Liberia, Ghana, Senegal as part of the Operation Crossroads Africa Ethno-Musicality Program in 1978. Throughout her life, she graced the stage countless times, notably with Paul Hall Dance Company (1989-1991) and Roots Dance Company at the Muse (1983- 1985) Bronx Intergenerational Theater Ensemble (BITE), and at the Harlem Jazz Theatre-Apollo Theater and Billie Holiday Theater.
Carolyn passed on her love of the arts by teaching dance and acting and by consulting for cultural community organizations– including with the Spectrum Dance Company (St. Thomas), Tenant Development Corp Community Center (Boston), Stars Elite (Detroit), USVI Traditional Moko Jumbies, Carnival Queen Pageant Show (St. Thomas), Miss USVI Pageant, Dee Dee’s Dance School (CT), and Caldwell Dance Center (CT). After developing her production and technical skills at Boston Neighborhood Network (BNNTV) and Citizens TV (New Haven), she created BOSTONKIDSTV, filmed a documentary about the Buck Island Reef Monument (St. Croix) for the Virgin Islands National Park Service, and helped to create a film titled, “Her”/ “Tribute to Bowen-Peters School of Dance” about New Haven trailblazer and mentor, Angela Bowen. In the late 1980s, Carolyn pursued the traditional dance legacies of Sint Maarten, where she lived at the time. Along with Ms. Clara Reyes, they were instrumental researching, solidifying and preserving the “ponum” dance, an important part of Sint Maarten’s cultural and historical tradition.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Fana Onayemi Hickinson aka her only and favorite child, and her Godchildren/ Special Ones: Beige Auradou, Taaliba Crawford, Brandi Wright, Rashida Lopez, Kalifa Hickinson-John, Brooklyn Mack and Eric Maroney.
Michael L. Jenkins is her proud elder brother, and her other loving siblings are Alberta Taylor Charles, Deborah C. Jenkins, Arlene Brown, Yvonne D. Jenkins†, Anthony Dyous, John Duckett, Kim†,Albert† and Phillip Reed. She leaves a legacy of friendship and sistahood/ camaraderie with Danna Munday, Leona Heyward- Hull, Monica Breaux-Auradou, Michelle Summers, Diane X Brown, Lisa Laplace-Knight, Pam Colbert, Ivy Moore, Jawad Durimel, Suzy Landau, Ernie McClintock† , Ron Walker†, Danny Walter Harris, Barbara Barrow- Murray, Rehenia Frasier, Edie Johnson, Jerry Alicea, Changa Hickinson, Joan McGhee† and many other special friends who became family.
She is loved by a host of aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, niblings and cousins, including Sharone Richardson, Andrea Jenkins,Steffon Jenkins, Sean Jenkins, Christopher Jenkins†,Leroy Jenkins, Jeanine Gavrin, Johnesha Reddick, Minnie Reeves, Edmond Marchetti Jr., Nathan “Butch” Reeves, Bobby Reeves†, Jay Reddick, Willesha Garvin, Elizabeth Simms, Francis Stevens, Chelsea Irish and many others.
She danced her way into this world, and we mournfully celebrate the sunset of a life well-lived.
Her “Celebration of Life” was held on 27 July 2024 at Whitneyville Cultural Commons in New Haven. The event can be viewed by contacting Fana directly.
