Mrs. Doris Vivian Jenkins

Obituary for Doris Vivian Jenkins:

Doris Vivian Jenkins, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away peacefully on May 15, 2018.

Doris was born on September 5, 1929 in Pittsburgh, PA. She was the 7th of eight children born to Joshua H. and Margaret (Wines) Jones. She was a graduate of George Westinghouse High School. Some of Doris’ fondest memories as a child, was growing up on Montezuma Ave where their family home sat at the top of the hill (if you know anything about Pittsburgh, you know it’s a city with a lot of steep hills). Doris’ recreation of choice was roller skating. She along with her brother became quite good at roller skating. Doris would share stories with her children about the hot summers and the fun she had running up and down the steep hills playing with friends.

In 1953, Doris set out on a roller skating adventure by Greyhound bus, that led her to Cleveland. Her plan was to participate in a skating competition. Unfortunately the competition never happened due to the skating rink catching on fire and burning to the ground. Doris, did not plan on staying in Cleveland, but her money was running low and she had no choice but to get a job. She decided to stay in Cleveland with friends of one of herolder sisters. In 1955 on Thanksgiving Day she met and fell smitten with Walter Jenkins, known to his family and friends as Junior.

Even though she moved away from Pittsburgh, it was important for her children to be connected with their family in Pittsburg. She enjoyed taking her children to Pittsburg and equally enjoyed when her family visited her in Cleveland. Once her children were grown, she enjoyed the luxury of traveling further to visit family in California, Louisiana, Virginia, Nevada, Georgia and even rightdown the road in southern Ohio. She also enjoyed Disney World, the Disney Cruise and New York City. She thoroughly enjoyed when her nephews would take her to musical plays.

Doris worked at University Hospital for a period of time and then at Euclid General Hospital as a Nurse’s Aide for almost 20 years. She worked at Higbees, Severance Town Center, she did domestic work and in her later years became a Private Home Health Aide, caring for patients in their homes. She was a woman with a heart to serve in the community and in her church. She was a member of St. Marks Presbyterian Church, Beachwood OH for more than 40 years. She served in ministry as a Deaconess, a Usher, worked tirelessly as member of the Hunger Program and she even sang in the choir.

Doris was a woman of God. She was a strong, courageous, peaceful, gentle soul. A woman with integrity and with a kind spirit. She raised her six children to be the same. She kept her children and family laughing. If you knew her, you know she would pretty much always have a sarcastic come back for you. J

Proceeding her in death are, her husband (Walter J. Jenkins Jr), her father and mother, her five sisters and one brother. She leaves her legacy to be carried on by her youngest sister Virginia Jones, three daughters- Vivian McKissack (Larry), Sharon Millhouse (Jerome), Teresa Sudberry (Gregory), three sons – Walter Jenkins III (Veronica), Durant Jenkins, LaMount Jenkins (Sheila), thirteen grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews and family friends.

Humbly Submitted, The Family

A final message from her son: I could not have walked a mile in her shoes, but she walked thousands of miles for me. Lovingly, Durant