Ethelean Miller Jenkins

Celebration of Life In my Father’s House are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 Mother Ethelean Miller Jenkins earned her wings on Sunday, April 11, 2021 and stepped inside our Father’s House. She was born on September 29, 1929 in Lane, South Carolina to the late Leroy Miller, Sr. and Etta Boyd Miller. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rhodus Jenkins Sr., son, Rhodus Jr. and a brother, Leroy Miller Jr. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Antioch Baptist Church where she remained a member until she relocated to Virginia. Mother Ethelean was educated at Greelyville High School where she was one of the school’s outstanding basketball players. To everyone she was fondly called, “Missie”! January, 1947, she married the love of her life, Rhodus Jenkins Sr. and out of this union four children were born. Mother Ethelean was an excellent wife and an “Old Fashion” fantastic mother. She taught her children the true meaning of life. She knew it was to love the Lord with all of their hearts, reverence the Lord, pray, be respectful to themselves and everyone else, be honest, work hard, love each other and to do for others. Mother Jenkins didn’t believe in children not being polite or not saying yes ma’am, no ma’am or yes sir and no sir. If ever they got out of line, all she had to do was look at them or point her finger and they would straighten up quickly. She taught them to say their “grace” before eating and to say “the Lord’s prayer every night on their knees. In 1950, the family moved to Richmond, Virginia, for better opportunities. It didn’t take Mother Ethelean long to find a new church home. She joined the Saint Paul’s Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Journey Archer Mosby. She became a very active member; she joined the Senior choir, the Ladies Auxiliary Broad, the Hospitality Committee, and she was part of the original Senior group which is now called the Refiner’s. Mother Jenkins served faithfully under three pastors during her membership, Rev. Mosby, Rev. James E. Leary and the current Pastor, Rev. Doctor Lance D. Watson. She loved all of her pastors and served all of them dutifully. She remained a faithful member unto she was called into eternal rest. She loved her entire church family and they loved her because of her kind, warm spirit, compassionate heart, willingness to always help out wherever help was needed. Mother Ethelean was employed at MCV Hospital for over 27 years. Everyone spoke of her work ethics, very detailed, committed and with excellence. At her retirement reception co-workers and supervisors spoke of “what a conscientious and delightful person she was to work with”! There she also made a dear lifetime friend, Mrs. Mae Miller. Mother Ethelean, never met a stranger, her love for Christ spilled over on everyone, including neighbors, relatives and friends. When she was not doing things for her family, friends or strangers, you could find her cooking a delicious meal, or planting and growing flowers. Her yard and home was always immaculate. After her health began to decline, she moved in with her daughter Carol, whom took excellent care of her mother. Carol came up with a new “personal” name for her mother “doll baby”. I called her “doll baby” because she was so “special” and “precious” to her and she enjoyed taking care of her mother. Sometimes it was challenging moments taking care of Mother Jenkins due to her illness, however, because of Mother Jenkins teaching her children how to love, take care of each other, and to pray, her children continued making whatever sacrifices needed to keep her at Carol’s home. “Doll Baby” was well taken care of until she departed this life. Now Mother Jenkins is resting from her labor in her new mansion with a garden that we can only imagine, streets paved with gold and she is in the presence of the one she loves the most, her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Cherishing her sweet memories in their hearts forever are three daughters, Ora Mae Wright (David), Gloria J. Pye (John), and Carol Ann Purnell; 1 brother, Howard Whitfield, Brooklyn, New York; grandchildren, Derrell Lamont Jones (Dianna), Alonzo Lamont Pye (LaMeisha), William Curtis Pye, Olivia Latoya Gibson, and James Michael Pye; eight great-grands, one great-great-grand; sisters-in-law, Shirley Davis, Jannine Simmons, of Philadelphia, PA, Nora L. Murray, of Brooklyn, New York, and Barbara Ruffin, of Philadelphia, PA, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, SPBC family and friends, one devoted Mrs. Mae Ella Miller.

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Ethelean Miller Jenkins

September 29, 1929 - April 11, 2021