Dedra Evelina Jenkins

She was born in St. Augustine, Florida on February 2, 1963 and was raised by her beloved mother, Christine Evelina (Hill) McClendon. Dedra learned her tireless work ethic from her strong mother, instilling the skills to faithfully care for her own five sons, as well as many dogs, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, fish, and even a few cats. However, birds were her favorite. She had a duck as a childhood pet named Duck-A-Luck and cared for many wild birds in need.

Raised apart from her only sister, Denise, Dedra cherished her community. She was an advocate for many, especially in her neighborhood, and helped resurrect the Holden Heights Neighborhood Association. Later, she would help bring sidewalks, sewers and safety to a neighborhood that needed all of those. She owned Jenkins & Sons, a cleaning business, and ran the neighborhood candy shop. Known to her sons as mom, and to those outside the house as “Momma J”, she loved taking ALL of her children to Lake Eola, Rock Springs, the beach, water parks and theme parks. Dedra was adept at investing in the many people that she cared for.

In her spare time, Dedra loved to garden, read, and connect with people. You would find her in her garden with her green thumb, raising orchids, or pineapples and veggies. Since she had 5 over-sized boys to feed, she would be simultaneously planning the next meal. She loved to cook, and all who knew her knew that seafood was the way to her heart! Dedra loved to laugh, and though we are grateful she has no more pain, we miss her already. Her tender faith in God and ever-growing relationship with Him were examples passed down from her mother and now are on display for her sons and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her dear mother, Christine E. McClendon.

Dedra is survived by her sons, Demetrius E Jenkins (Marlena), Enoch Dathan Jenkins (Amanda), Jeremiah Darius Jenkins, Benjamin Daniel Jenkins (Arica), Nathaniel David Jenkins; her sister, Denise Mayo; her grandchildren, Corey Barclay, Jada Jenkins, Kyler Jenkins, Dathan Jenkins, Kayla Jenkins, Benjamin Jenkins II, Christian Jenkins, Arlan Jenkins, Aria Jenkins and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Please join us for Momma J’s Homegoing Celebration on December 12th at 2:00pm at Baldwin-Fairchild Chapel Hill, 2420 Harrell Road, Orlando, Florida 32817. She will be buried there at Chapel Hill Cemetery at 3:30pm. *If you would like the option to livestream the service from home, you may copy and paste either one of these 2 links into your browser:

https://youtu.be/4rJHoWmjZC8

or,

https://youtu.be/xZKhD5Qm_cU.

**For those LIVESTREAMING, the service will not actually begin until 2:30.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to contribute to the restoration of Ms. Jenkins’ family home, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/restoration-of-mcclendon-amp-jenkins-family-home.