Obituary of Louise Francis Jenkins

Louise Francis Goodman Jenkins passed away peacefully at her home in Fayetteville on Saturday, June 17, 2006, surrounded by her children and grandchildren who sang and prayed as she departed this life. She was lucid and able to communicate her love until her very last moments. She was 91 years of age and had previously been a resident of Route One, Williams for 58 years. Called one of the last of the pioneer women, she was born October 31, 1914 in the Guthrie community of Lawrence Co., Indiana. The oldest of the nine children of Elmer Frank and Sarah Louressie Honeycutt Goodman, Mrs. Jenkins grew up in a log cabin. She attended the long-defunct Valley School and was a 1932 graduate of Needmore High School. In 1934, she married Byrl Thornton Jenkins of Bedford, a union that was to last for more than 65 years, produce seven children, and stand as a monument of love and faithfulness to all who knew them. In 1945, the couple and their children moved to a primitive farm in Martin County, where they rebuilt a decrepit farmhouse while heating and cooking with wood they cut themselves. Lighting was by Coleman lanterns until the arrival of electricity in the 1950s. A member of Fayetteville Baptist Church, Mrs. Jenkins was a devout follower of Jesus Christ from her childhood and was known for her strong faith and life of quiet saintliness. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her siblings Edith, Ray, Earl, Lloyd, Robert, Dorothy, Alice, and Eugene. Mrs. Jenkins is survived by her children: David B. and wife Louise of Kensington, GA; Anah L. Crane of Fayetteville; Stephen T. and wife Teresa of Williams; Joseph C. and wife Susan of Harvest, AL; Elizabeth A. Hickman and husband John T. of Bramble; Mark T. and wife Rebekah of Humboldt, TN; Philip N. and wife Erin of Huntsville, AL. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren include Robin D. Jenkins, wife Bonnie, and children Jennifer, Robert, Michael, and Nathan; Donald J. Jenkins, wife Kimberly, and children Devlin and Marlee; Shawn K. Jenkins; Holly Crane Page, husband Scott, and children Jonathan, Joshua, Jessica, and Jenna; Gaylynn Crane Breighner, husband Drew, and children Nathan and Jacob; Michael L. Crane, wife Julie, and children Zachary and Isaac; Stephen T. Jenkins, Jr; Candacelynn L. Jenkins; Nelson B. Jenkins; Idamarie L. Jenkins; Kimberly J. Jenkins; Nicholas C. Jenkins and wife Eileen; Mary C. Jenkins Hayes, husband Elon, and children Zachary, Luke, and Sydney; John T. Hickman II, wife Alise, and children Shane, Hunter, Faith, and John Michael; Jeremy A. Hickman, wife Michelle, and children Michael, Christopher, and Patricia Elizabeth; Joy E. Hickman Speer and children Shirsten and Allyson; Chelesse D. Jenkins Bruneau, husband Matthew, and children Andrew, Morgan, Ryan, and Alyssa; Joshua M. Jenkins, wife Amanda, and children Aspen and Sydney; Adrian D. Jenkins, wife Laura, and son Dylan; Mary M. Jenkins Ouellette, husband Carl, and son Garrett; Amanda D. Jenkins and children Kevin and Hannah; Matthew Jenkins; Ashley N. Jenkins Clark, husband Jeremiah Clark, and daughter Funeral Information The family will receive visitors at the Day and Carter Mortuary from 4 P.M. until 8 P.M. on Monday, June 19. Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, June 20, at Fayetteville Baptist Church under the direction of the Rev. Kenny Walden, followed by a brief graveside service at Silverville Missionary Baptist cemetery.