Mary Ella Jenkins

On July 10th, 1932, God blessed the late Tom and Ora Lee Byrd King with a baby girl they named Mary Ella, in Muscoda, Alabama. Shortly before she was of school age the family moved to Shades Valley. At a young age she confessed faith in Christ and joined the Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church of Shades Valley under the leadership of then pastor Reverend B.B. Strowder. While still a very young girl she occasionally played music for Sunday worship services and special programs. By the age of 12 she was hired as the pianist. She served as musician for Jerusalem for 66 years working diligently with four pastors. She was also a Sunday school teacher, Senior Citizen Ministry Coordinator, and Tutor. She worked faithfully in the community and served with the Brothers and Sisters Christian Union Society, Bessemer Voter League, Jefferson County District Congress of Christian Education and as Musician for several churches in the Bessemer Cut-off area. Mary believed that Education was essential to life. She was educated in the Jefferson County Schools, graduating from Wenonah High School in 1949. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Miles College, Fairfield, AL in 1953. She secured employment with the Jefferson County School System and began teaching in the two room Shades Valley neighborhood school. In her classroom she taught first, second, and third grades. During the height of the Civil Rights era she chose to attend Columbia University in New York City where she received a master's degree in Early Childhood Education in 1962. She remained employed with Jefferson County Schools for 35 years. She finally retired from McAdory Elementary School in McCalla. She touched many lives through her teaching, love for people and overwhelming desire to share her knowledge and love of GOD.In 1963, she met and married the love of her life, Sam Jenkins, Jr,. They enjoyed a life of service to their church, family and community. Mary enjoyed cooking, music, traveling, gardening and spending time with family and friends. On Friday, August 27, 2021, she departed this life at Hospice of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama surrounded by her daughters Francine and Alma. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Sam Jenkins Jr., and her beloved siblings Majorie Ingram and Albert King. She leaves to cherish many beautiful memories: two daughters; Francine (Roderick) Hughley, Northport, AL, Alma (James) Alexander of Cuero,TX; two Stepsons, Sam (Claudia) Jenkins of Waterbury, CT and Sammy Glen (Doren) Hunter of Cleveland, OH; three grandchildren, Charissa (Maurice) Jackson, Jonathan (Chianti) Hughley, and Margaret F. Hughley, 10 Step grandchildren, 1 grand dog, 25 Great Grands. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special care givers Vonnie Baylor-Sims, Addie Smith, Latrina Sheppard, Latrice Degraffenried, Kathleen Cook, Lillian James, and Wilma Faye Kelly.

Events

Visitation

September 2, 2021, 12:00 pm
September 2, 2021, 6:00 pm
Poole's Funeral Chapels
1501 7th Avenue, North
Birmingham, AL 35203
Email: wecare@poolefuneralchapel.com
Phone: (205) 322-5574

Visitation

September 3, 2021, 11:00 am
September 3, 2021, 12:30 pm
Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church
7941 Lou George Loop
Bessemer, AL 35022
Phone: 205-428-1010

Final Resting Place

Jerusalem Cemetery
Pocahontas Road
Bessemer, AL 35022

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