Tributes have been pouring in to the family of former school principal and educator Dr. Norma Jean Hendrickson, of Somerset, who passed away late on Sunday night, a day after being admitted to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Her husband, architect Harry Hendrickson, said arrangements are being finalised for her funeral and will be announced in short order.

Dr. Hendrickson was singled out in March this year for a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Bermuda Chapter of the Business and Professional Women Association, in which she was a leading member.

At the gala presentation ceremony at the Royal Hamilton Dinghy Club, her friend Emancia Outerbridge cited how Dr. Hendrickson had become "recognised as a dynamic leader in the field of education, being credited with success in addressing critical issues and providing educational opportunities for diverse student populations in the Bermuda Education system".

"Her outstanding performance and service earned Dr. Hendrickson key positions within the system including the teaching of English and modern languages at the secondary school level; noted Mrs. Outerbridge. She was given a secondary school principalship, a position she held for 16 years, serving two public secondary schools. Later she became a senior officer at the Ministry of Education serving as Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, a position she held for six years."

Continuing her citation, Mrs. Outerbridge noted Dr. Hendrickson's contributions as a lifetime member of the Methodist Church; being a preacher, a past chairman of the Synod of the Wesley Methodist Church of Bermuda and chairman of the Board of Emmanuel Methodist Church, Southampton.

The Royal Gazette's Island Notebook reported that Dr. Hendrickson delighted the audience as she smilingly went through the motions of fanning herself in surprise; and as she was named for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Mrs. Outerbridge reeled off some of the honourees' exemplary contributions "to BPWA Bermuda, backed by a screen display of visuals secreted from the Hendrickson archives".

Mrs. Outerbridge cited her Jamaican-born fellow member as "an accomplished professional with a penchant for excellence, having many years of experience as an effective teacher, leader and administrator, and making an outstanding contribution to the development of this society, by living up to the principles of service and achievement through hard work, and dedication to duty and she can be credited for transforming the lives of many.

"She has an impressive record of academic achievement and professional excellence and service to civic organisations."

Dr. Hendrickson attended Morgan State University in Baltimore where she received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. She subsequently earned a Master of Arts degree (MA), a Master of Education degree (M.Ed) and a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D) from Columbia University in New York.

Dr. Hendrickson was the wife of architect Harry Hendrickson, of Somerset, for nearly 50 years, and mother of three adult sons and grandmother of six grandsons.