Mercedes C."Meme"Jenkins

Mercedes C. Jenkins, "Meme," died at her home Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. She was 92, born Nov. 21, 1917, in Cardenas, Cuba. Mercedes married Eduardo E. Jenkins in 1945. During the Fidel Castro regime, she was forced to send her five children to safety in the United States while she remained in Cuba where her husband was held as a political prisoner. He was finally released and the family was reunited in Laurel, Miss., in 1963. The Asmar family, lifelong friends in Laurel, Miss., were instrumental in helping the family in countless ways during this time and we are forever grateful for their generosity and compassion as well as the entire community of Laurel. In 1964, Wright Adams, who has since passed away, assisted the family in relocating to Baton Rouge. Affectionately known as "Meme" to many, Mercedes truly loved life and made anyone who visited her home feel welcome and loved by her gentle nature, genuine warmth and hospitality. She was a wonderful example throughout every phase of her life. Her home was always full of people and she was a true delight to be around. Mercedes was a very active member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and she selflessly donated her time for many years for various causes including cooking meals every day at her expense for 30 men for the Bishop Ott Shelter, knitting blankets for unwed mothers and the elderly, playing the piano for those at The Gillis W. Long Center for Hansen's Disease in Carville, and various nursing homes, volunteer work at hospitals and St. Vincent de Paul. She was so appreciative of all the help her family received from others that she wanted to give back in any way she could to the country that opened its arms to her and her family. She was recognized for her volunteer work and was awarded a Women Who Count: Giving Something Back award by the community in 1993. Mercedes had many talents and hobbies. She was a concert pianist and loved to entertain friends and family with any musical request they may have. She taught piano lessons at St. Aloysius School in Baton Rouge for many years as well as private lessons in her home. She will be forever remembered by all who met her for her genuine warmth and generosity. She was preceded in death by her parents, Pedro and Mercedes Alcebo; husband, Eduardo E. Jenkins; and four brothers, Pedro, Oscar, Raoul and Jose Alcebo. She is survived by a son, Eduardo J. Jenkins and his wife, Lynda; four daughters, Cristina Fowler and her husband, Jorge, Mercedes Suarez and her husband, Felipe, Victoria Castellanos and her husband, Francisco, and Carmen Williams; daughter-in-law, Linda Tucker Jenkins; son-in-law, Darwyn Williams, ten grandchildren, Eduardo Paul Jenkins and his wife, Arden, Christopher Jenkins, Jeorge Fowler IV, and his wife, Jennifer, Cristy Chauvin and her husband, Christian, Michelle Galavis and her husband, Alejandro, Anne and Wesley Williams, Patricia Davis and her husband, Kevin, Austin Distefano and Josh Bratton; and three great-grandchildren, Pierson and Parker Jenkins, and Ana Cristina Davis. The family would like to thank her many caregivers over the years, especially Cleotilde "Tita" Ramos, Felix and Margaret Segora F Dr. James and his nurse, Vickey; Dr. Jeffries and Dr. Minsky, and their nurse, Lisa, for the many years of care at the Baton Rouge Family Medical Center; Arturo Fuentes; her physical therapist; and the dear friends that visited every day, Mrs. Francis Levine, Susan Benjamin and Marianne Dibenedetto; a dear niece, Janet Harrison; daughter-in-law, Linda Tucker Jenkins; Dr. Jim Rhorer and the staff at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center Emergency Room. Visitation at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 445 Marquette Ave., on Wednesday, Sept. 8, from 1 p.m. until a Mass to celebrate the life of Mercedes at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bishop Ott Shelter or St. Vincent de Paul.