Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Jewelle Jenkins

Jewelle Gee Wilson Jenkins, long time resident of El Dorado, died at DeWitt on Sunday, April 4, 2004, where she had lived since 1997.

Mrs. Jenkins was born in Prescott on August 26, 1913, the daughter of Henry Johnston and Jewelle Temperance Gee Wilson, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Nancy Temperance Wilson and Allien Inez Wilson.

Mrs. Jenkins was well known for her many local civic and church, radio and television performances playing her musical saw, which was one of four originally played by her family in the early days of radio in Arkansas, beginning in the 1920's in Hot Springs.

For a number of years, she used her creative talents making felt flower arrangements, "Felts, by Jewelle of El Dorado", sometime selling, but mostly giving her attractive arrangements to friends and family. In her final years, she produced many needle-point pictures, one of which "The Last Supper" was given by her and hangs in the Vestibule First United Methodist Church in DeWitt, where she was a member of the time of her death.

She was an active member of First Baptist Church in El Dorado for more than 50 years.

She was married to Minor Ross Jenkins, Sr. on August 2, 1932, who preceded her in death in their 65th year of marriage.

She is survived by her children: Nancy Jenkins Groves and her husband Bill, of Pine Bluff; Minor Ross Jenkins, Jr. and his wife, Linda of Mountain Home, and Claude Wilson Jenkins and his wife, Marjorie of DeWitt; 10 grandchildren, Amy Jenkins Braswell, Jon-Claude Jenkins, Rebecca Jenkins Thompson, Alvin G. Groves, Anita Jewelle Groves, Michael Ross Groves, Joseph M. Groves, Robin Jenkins Hill, Minor Ross Jenkins III, and Jennifer Jenkins Branch, and 16 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her dear friend and care-giver, Virginia Stewart.

Funeral services were 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 7, at First United Methodist Church, DeWitt with a 3 p.m. graveside service at Arlington Cemetery in El Dorado by Essex Funeral Home of DeWitt. Visitation was 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 527, DeWitt, Ark. 72042.