Granddaddy was...how do I complete that statement accurately? He was a Christian man and role model. He was loved fiercely by his family and community. 

As a child I remember spending time at the lake many summers and spring breaks. He and my grandmother taught me how to swim. They rode bikes with us and helped us fish from the dock.  They taught me to love the lake where I will soon reside. 

At their home we spent countless hours playing in the hosta beds and down by the creek. We often were at the farm riding in the truck bed learning about the cows. 

Granddaddy was pivotal in the making of my mother and me. He had a shadow as a father that he groomed into a strong woman, my mother Diane. For me, he made sure I was at VBS learning the Word and how to love God recklessly. I saw very closely how he dedicated his life to the Lord and service. He played such a large part in my early years, both as a child and Christian and I am forever grateful. 

I will miss him dearly, as I do his wife, my grandmother Joyce. I mourned upon the news that he was not gone but quickly began rejoicing at the thought of magnificent his homecoming must be. 




My granddaddy meant the world to me growing up. I remember the summers spent in Morris and watching for his work truck coming down the driveway.  The best memory I always recall is down at Turkey Creek wading through the water in my jellys holding his hand. He told me to be real quiet and still. I remember asking him why but if Granddaddy told you to do something then you did it. Years later did I find out that He wanted me to be still because a snake was swimming around us.
Granddaddy also made me a 5 foot tall barbie house. Grandmother designed it and he built it replica to the size of barbie dolls. So precious to know that is has been past down to my daughters, now my brother's daughters.
I also remember him sitting on the front porch every morning with his coffee and newspaper but was always ready to put it down for me to crawl up in his lap.
Granddaddy was a man of God. Every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday nights he was always ready to go worship our Savior. What a beautiful feeling to know that he is now in heaven singing with the heavenly Angel's and praising God walking on the streets of gold.
I love you Granddaddy and will see you again in heaven!


I will always recall, with great joy, the many trips to and across Turkey Creek, and down to the farm with Granddaddy.  One of my most memorable moments with him are when he let me be a "cowboy" and "ride a cow" - I was so determined, and he was so patient! And another is when we "rescued" me from the side of the creek bank and pulled me up to safety - I was surrounded by what I thought were snake holes and was out of my mind scared - yet he was a Rock, so calm and so comforting throughout the ordeal - even though we had a real good laugh and "Jenkins Jiggle" over the whole thing when it was all said and done. Of course there was the "boy cart", and the golf cart, the John Deere tractor down the driveway (in neutral!) How he let me sit on the hub of the rear tractor tire while we cut, raked, and baled the hay.  He taught me to drive the old green truck, the BIG hay truck, the tractor.  He wasn't afraid to let me try just about anything, and yet was always right there with me, giving me the "freedom" to be in the driver's seat, yet always watchful - correcting gently when needed.

I will always remember Granddaddy as a man of God, one with a demeanor that was so gentle, yet firm. Patient.  Kind. Supportive. Endearing. Eager to teach. Eager to help/serve.  A Family man.  Someone I want to model as I now to am a father, and perhaps one day a Grandfather.

Praise God that Granddaddy is now HOME! We love you!

OBITUARY

John A. Jenkins

November 13, 1928 – March 27, 2019

Ridout's Gardendale Chapel

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