In 1995, Damon Jenkins, Lib’s husband,
passed away. At the time I lived in Clearwater,
Fla and did not become aware of his death until
after the funeral. Needless to say, I missed
attributing my condolences to Mrs Jenkins at
the time. So I wrote her a letter stating my
regrets. I can’t remember exactly what I wrote
in that letter but it had a lot to do with how,
when I was a kid growing up on Old Ellerbe Rd
down from Five Points, the Jenkins house was
like a second home to me and I really was
saddened to learn of Mr Jenkin’s death.
At one point, when my mom was in the hospital
at Richmond Memorial sometime in the late
90s, I bumped into Mrs Jenkins at the hospital.
She went on and on to me about her family -
showing me photos and how she had
appreciated that letter I had sent her about her
husband – and she still had it. I am so glad I
took the time to sit down and write that letter to
her. I just wanted to let her know that she and
her husband were special people to me and
would always be remembered.
This website, Rockingham Remembered, is all
about memories. Memories like these - of the
people you grew up with and the many
experiences during those years. Just like the
ones I experienced with the Jenkins family.
They were a staple of the neighborhood. You
couldn't find better people to call your friends.
I was deeply saddened when I read that Mrs
Jenkins had died. And what was especially sad
was that she was such a vibrant lady at 86
years old and still driving. Such a tragedy it was
that she was taken from the family and friends
so suddenly in a car accident. I saw the photo
in the Journal of the accident scene and Mrs
Jenkin’s car, a Buick. As far as I can
remember, the Jenkins always had a Buick in
their driveway.
I did get to attend the family gathering from 2 to
3 on Sunday, Feb 3 in Rockingham at the First
Presbyterian Church. You could tell that she
was a very popular and well thought of lady by
the number of people there to pay their last
respects. If I am not mistaken, Mrs Jenkins had
received recognition from her church for her
attendance there for 50 years. In fact, I got to
meet and talk with the Mayor of Rockingham,
Gene McLaurin and he mentioned to me that
she sat in front of him many Sundays in church
and was a great asset to First Presbyterian.
You know, that is what is so ironic about
attending an event like this. We grieve for the
loved one and the family in their loss. But in
reality, the loved one has passed on to be with
God in Heaven. One of my friends at my
church here in Cary, Westwood Baptist, wife
was diagnosed with cancer and didn’t have long
to live. And you know what she told her
husband? “I’m going to get to see Jesus before
you”. Now, that says it all.
It has always been this way I guess. Events
such as this bring so many people together that
you haven’t seen in years and probably won’t
see again until there is another occasion as
this. But wouldn’t it be great if there could be a
reunion of friends such as this without one
being taken from us? Having not lived in
Rockingham since 1988, I saw many people
from my past that I haven’t seen in ages.
Woody Jenkins, Mrs Jenkin’s oldest son and I
went hunting when we were kids. I remember
he always had a 16 gauge shotgun that he
used. And I understand he is still an avid hunter
today. Woody worked at the Railroad in Hamlet
as an Electrician while I was there. Jerry
Jenkins, the youngest child of Mrs Jenkins – he
was a great childhood friend as well in the
neighborhood and worked for Swink Oil for
years. The last time I saw Jerry was in Shallotte
– quite by accident when we were visiting my
wife’s parents. I hardly recognized him, it had
been so long. Now, I see that he talked his
older brother into moving there also. And,
Jenny Sue Jenkins Lear. When I had my ’66
Chevelle, I would give her a ride to school every
day. We grew up together in the old
neighborhood. She now lives in Marion SC with
her husband Billy.
So many people attended this gathering to pay
their respect that I remember from the past.
Delores “Bubba” Smith – another friend from
years ago in the neighborhood, son of Grady
Smith that used to run Smith's Store on our
street, Richard Martin and Ronald Wallace,
both former classmates at the old Rockingham
High School, Anna Baucom, youngest child of
the Baucoms that used to live on old Highway
220 across from Water’s Café - her brother
Jimmy was a good friend of mine - Carol and
Nellie Folsom, cousins of the Jenkins that I
hadn’t seen in probably 40 years, Billy Lassiter
from Five Points, and probably more that I can’t
remember.
I only wish I had more time to sit down with the
Jenkins children and reminisce about the past
and their mom but for some reason there
seems never to be enough time to allow this. It
seems only a few years ago that we all were
running through the neighborhood, in and out of
their house, practically living in the wooded area
behind their house, riding a buggy pulled by our
pony Trigger and picking plums or blackberries.
But like I tell my grandchildren now, enjoy your
youth and take time to enjoy life at that age
because time stands still for no one.
My mother is 85 years old and I tried in the past
to get her to go with me to visit Mrs Jenkins
right up the street. But my mom has dementia
and didn’t really remember Mrs Jenkins so we
never made that trip. I wish we had.
I don’t know what the children will do with the
Jenkins homeplace but the memories of their
mom and dad will always be with me and will
not fade. My sincere regrets go out to Woody,
Jerry and Jenny Sue and I just wanted to let
them know how a former childhood friend felt
about their mom and dad.
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