Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Bruce Cemetery in Bruce for Bessie Steele “Bess” Jenkins, 92, of Grenada, who moved to her eternal home on Tuesday evening, Nov. 8. Dr. Jim Nunnelee officiated. She was a resident of Providence Personal Care Home in Grenada.
Born in the Ellard community near Bruce on Feb. 16, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Elmer Loraine and Flora Helen McKibben Steele. Her husband, Max E. Jenkins, and two sisters, Dixie Steele Davis and Betty Steele Jenkins, preceded her in death.
She and her husband Max Jenkins founded Jenkins Cooling and Heating in Bruce in 1959, and she worked in the family business until she retired after his death on June 19, 1984. She moved to Grenada in 2002 to be near her family. She enjoyed “living on the lake” as she would tell anyone. She was able to live alone for seven years at which time her son, Gary, and his wife, Jane, moved in to assist her. After falling and suffering several broken bones and needing more assistance, she moved to Providence. She was a member of First Baptist Church Grenada and a former member of the Daughters of The American Revolution.
Her family was her life. She loved and cherished her “boys” and her grandchildren. Her love for her family was evident in the many ways she always encouraged and supported all of them. She loved deeply and was deeply loved and appreciated. She often expressed her appreciation to her family and to her caregivers all of whom were special to her.
She had told the story of accepting Jesus as her Savior in Bible School when she was nine years old and how her mother made a white dress with lace stitching for the baptism. In those days, there was few inside baptistries, so a neighbor’s pond was used. She laughed when saying she went in the dirty water in a white dress and came out in a light brown dress that was never white again.
Although her family and friends will miss her profoundly, we are confident that she is healed and rejoicing in Heaven.
Survivors include, her two sons, Gary E. Jenkins and his wife, Jane, of Grenada, and Dr. Gregory K. Jenkins, MD, MMM, FACP, CPE and his wife, Michelle, of Olive Branch; her brother, Bobby Steele of Calhoun City; sister-in-law, Faye Jenkins of Bruce, and her aunt, Rubye McKibben Murk of Gulfport.
She is also survived by her grandsons, Tyler Keith Jenkins, his wife, Anna, and their daughter, Ada Lou, and son, Whit, of Durham, N.C., and Trent Kyle Jenkins and Matthew Steele Jenkins of Olive Branch and their mother, Susan Hoyle, and husband, Les, of Southaven.
She is also survived by her step grandchildren, Sledge (Abby) Simmons and their daughter, Ruby, of Kiln, Steve (Lindsey) Simmons and their children, Caylin and Matthew, of Brandon, Bailey (Wenger) Herrera, her husband, Oscar, and their daughter, Vivie, of Hersey, Pa., Dr. Morgan (Wenger) Lampson, her husband, Chris, of Columbia, S.C., and Carter Wenger of Buffalo, N.Y.
The family extends their sincere gratitude to her caregivers at Grenada Living Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center Grenada, Tallahatchie General Rehabilitation and more recently Providence Personal Care Home where she received excellent, compassionate care. Also, to her neighbors Tom and Judy Davis, Muriel Smith and Shirley Whaley, who checked on her frequently allowing her to stay in her home as long as possible. Your many acts of kindness are appreciated more than you will ever know.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 36, Grenada, MS 38902, or the charity of the donor’s choice.
The staff of Parker Memorial Funeral Home in Bruce is honored to serve the Jenkins family as they walk through this season of loss. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they mourn the passing of their loved one.
