Patricia Ann Jenkins

June 13, 1924 – January 23, 2019

Patricia “Pat” Ann Jenkins passed away on January 23, 2019, in Germantown , Tennessee, after a short illness and a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her presence will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Pat was born in Princess Anne, Maryland to John Sexton and Sidonia Adams Sexton. She was the youngest of eight children: William, Richard, Robert and James Sexton, Irma Joynes, Virginia Sexton, and Eloise Velie, who preceded her in death.

Pat married her loving husband of 45 years, a graduate of Harvard University School of Business Administration, Marvin “Bill” Conway Jenkins, son of Berniece Butterfield Jenkins of Pekin, Illinois, on May 28, 1954, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Mr. Robert Velie, Tenafly, New Jersey, gave his sister-in-law in marriage and Mrs. Irma Joynes, Cape Charles, Virginia, was her matron of honor. Mr. Paul R. Viehman served as best man.

Pat loved children and helping other people. She dreamed of becoming a flight attendant. At that time, nursing training was a pre-requisite for the job. Pat graduated from The Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Wilmington, Delaware and chose nursing as her career. She advanced to the position of Supervisor of the Pediatric Ward at The Memorial Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.

Pat’s greatest joys in life were her family and friends. She stopped working as a nurse in order to stay home and raise her three children: Marc, Brian and Vicki. Pat made life-long friendships with families that lived in Concord Hills, a small neighborhood outside Wilmington, DE, where she and Bill raised their family, and lived for 45 years. After selling the family home, Pat moved to California, where both of her sons lived. She enjoyed meeting new people, traveling and spending time with her sons, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and all of their acquaintances.

Her hobbies included going to garage sales, auctions, buying antique furniture, collecting dolls, oil lamps, plates and quilts. She enjoyed reading and working crossword puzzles. She was very nurturing and loved all animals, birds, plants and gardening.

One of her all time favorite restaurants was The Charcoal Pit in Wilmington, DE. Whenever family came to visit, it was certain that we would head out for cheese steaks, well-done French fries and the ultimate dessert - The Dynamiter - 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, bananas and walnuts in syrup, topped with marshmallow (not whipped cream) and a cherry – served in a tall, glass mug! Multiple spoons were required and everyone would “spoon fight” for the hot fudge at the bottom of the mug!

She also enjoyed spending time at the Booths Corner Farmers Market in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, browsing around and buying cinnamon buns and soft pretzels from the local vendors.

Pat loved going to the beaches on the eastern shore and enjoyed vacationing in Ocean City, Maryland, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Dewey Beach, Delaware and Smith Beach, Virginia. A celebration of her life will be held in June 2019 at the eastern shore of Virginia.

Pat is survived by her children: Marc Jenkins, Hesperia, CA; Brian Jenkins (Nancy) Torrance, CA; Victoria Garland (Lanier, Jr.) Cordova, TN; grandchildren: Clarissa Wiles (Cody), Paducah, KY; Mallory Garland, Ft. Mitchell, KY; Lanier Garland, III, Cordova, TN; Alexandra Jenkins, Torrance, CA; great-grandson: Harvey Wiles, Paducah, KY; nephew: Ralph Joynes, Richmond, VA; Ralph Joynes, Jr. ( Elise), Montpelier, VA; Linda Joynes, Richmond, VA; Karen Miller, Richmond, VA; niece: Gailyn Velie Bower (David), NJ; Stephanie Savas, NJ; brother-in-laws: Ralph Jenkins (Lillian), Lancaster, KY; Robert Jenkins (Donna), Pekin, IL; sister-in-laws: Llwelyn “Jean” Wheat, Pekin, IL; Deloris Jenkins, Mossy Head, FL; nephews: Jim, Rick and Mike Jenkins, Lancaster, KY; Keith Jenkins, Mossy Head, FL; nieces: Susan Hine, Chicago, IL; Julie Sullivan, Kathy Oates and Kim Wheat, Pekin, IL; Laura Gdula, Columbus, OH; Brenda White (Robert), Metamora, IL; Sheryl Burgess. Mossy Head, FL.