Press Statement
The historic Bain and Grants Town community will come alive on October 30–31, 2026, as residents, descendants, friends and supporters gather for the 2nd Bi-Annual Bain and Grants Town Homecoming & Music Festival, a celebration of the people, culture and history of one of The Bahamas’ most storied communities.
Held under the theme “Celebrating Our Heritage and Building Our Future,” the two-day Homecoming and Music Festival will take place on Market Street, opposite the Southern Recreation Grounds, bringing generations together for a celebration rooted in community pride, cultural preservation and the continued development of Bain and Grants Town.
The festival is designed not only as a homecoming for those who were born, raised or
have family ties in Bain and Grants Town, but also as an opportunity to reconnect
residents and descendants with the community and encourage greater participation in its future.
Bain and Grants Town has produced generations of Bahamians who have distinguished themselves in education, religion, sport, public service, business, tourism, culture and community development. This year, the Homecoming Committee will place special emphasis on preserving those stories and recognising individuals whose lives embody the strength and character of the community.
Eight to Receive the Cotton Tree Award
A major highlight of the 2026 Homecoming will be the presentation of the Cotton Tree
Award to eight honourees: Ursula Coakley; Dr. Joan Ilene Frazier Hunter Carey; Brian
R. Christie; Leviticus “Romeo” Farrington; Fred “Papa” Smith; Bishop Simeon B. Hall;
Prince Albert Richardson; and Darren Edward Bastian.
The award takes its inspiration from the enduring cotton tree as a symbol of community, strength and a brighter tomorrow, recognising men and women whose contributions have helped build Bain and Grants Town and, in many instances, the wider Bahamas.
Ursula Coakley will be honoured for a lifetime grounded in faith, service and community. Born on King Street in 1946, she attended Western Senior School and Prince William High School before working in banking and later serving for more than two decades as a linotype operator and writer with Eastern Airlines. Her life has also been marked by deep involvement in church, civic organisations and community service.
Dr. Joan Ilene Frazier Hunter Carey will be recognised for four decades of education,
leadership and service. Her journey in education began as a teacher and progressed
through senior leadership, including service as principal of Carlton E. Francis Primary
and later Thelma Gibson Primary School. Her story reflects the important role Bain and Grants Town educators have played in shaping generations of Bahamian children.
Brian R. Christie will be honoured for a lifetime of service to youth and community. Born in Bain and Grants Town in 1951, his life of service began through Scouting at St.
Joseph’s Church and developed into decades of leadership, mentorship and community involvement, including work with the Urban Renewal Programme.
Leviticus “Romeo” Farrington will be recognised for six decades of service and
Bahamian hospitality. Beginning his career as a teenager at the Montagu Beach Hotel, Farrington built a distinguished career in the tourism industry, including decades with Atlantis, while becoming widely known for his exceptional hospitality, professionalism and knowledge of Bahamian history and culture.
Fred “Papa” Smith will be honoured as a Bahamian baseball pioneer, coach, educator
and community mentor. A proud son of Bain and Grants Town, Smith signed with the
Cleveland Indians organisation in 1968 and played professionally for six years,
advancing as high as Triple-A. Following his professional career, he devoted himself to coaching, teaching and mentoring young people, helping to strengthen baseball within Bain and Grants Town and across the country.
Bishop Simeon B. Hall will be recognised for a life of faith, perseverance, ministry and
national service. A product of Bain and Grants Town, Bishop Hall rose from humble
beginnings to become an influential religious leader whose ministry extended
throughout The Bahamas and beyond. His work has also included advocacy and
engagement on important social issues affecting Bahamian society.
The late Prince Albert Richardson will be honoured for a life defined by faith, family,
hard work and deep community ties. Born in 1919 in Bain Town, Richardson was
remembered as a man of diverse talents, a dedicated worker and a gifted musician who shared his abilities through church and community life. His legacy continues through his family and the generations that remember his contribution to Bain and Grants Town.
Darren Edward Bastian will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to Junkanoo, cultural development and community leadership. Growing up in Grants Town, Bastian began his Junkanoo journey at age 12 and formally debuted with the Saxons in 1983. He went on to co-found the One Family Junkanoo and Community Organization in 1993 and later served for 10 years as its youngest and longest-serving chairman.
Together, the eight honourees represent different generations and different walks of life, but their stories share a common thread — service, perseverance and a connection to the community that helped shape them.
The Homecoming Committee hopes that highlighting their stories will also allow younger Bahamians to learn more about the men and women who came before them and understand the significant contribution Bain and Grants Town has made to the development of the nation.
The festival will also provide an opportunity for residents, former residents and
descendants to reconnect with the community, support its people and businesses and become involved in initiatives aimed at strengthening Bain and Grants Town for future generations.
The Homecoming Committee has established the Bain and Grants Town Educational
and Training Scholarship Fund, founded in 2024, as part of that continuing commitment to education, opportunity and community development.
Organisers are inviting Bain and Grants Town to come home — and The Bahamas to
come and celebrate with them on October 30 and 31.
Because while the festival celebrates the community’s remarkable past, its message is equally focused on what comes next:
Our People. Our Heritage. Our Bain and Grants Town. Our Tomorrow.
The post Bain and Grants Town Homecoming & Music Festival to Celebrate Community Heritage and Honour Eight Outstanding Sons and Daughters appeared first on ZNS BAHAMAS.
