Jelks Henry Cabaniss III

Jelks Henry Cabaniss III, born April 20, 1953, died on January 23, 2026. He was the husband of Eliana Butraigo Cabaniss, to whom he was married for five years. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, he was the son of Jelks H. Cabaniss Jr. and Anne Mudd Cabaniss. Jelks spent his childhood years in many places throughout the US and Germany due to his father’s military career. He graduated from The Choate School, studied briefly at the University of the South, and graduated from Strayer College years later. He spent many years in Sewanee and Nashville, TN, before returning to Alexandria, VA. He worked in publishing and as a computer programmer. During Covid, he married Eliana and they devoted themselves to restoring the Dr. Craik House in Alexandria, once his childhood home, and to celebrating colonial Alexandria history, of which Dr. Craik was a part.

Jelks was a person of immense delight, humor and kindness. He wanted to know everybody, to know who they were, and to find something special about them. A consummate raconteur, Jelks was the life of any party. He was without guile and lived in authenticity to himself, available to all. There were no barriers of background with Jelks; the more exotic, the better. He was interested in all things philosophical, spiritual and political. He was passionate about foreign cultures and libertarianism. He had a special love for birds and all wild creatures.

Jelks is survived by his wife Eliana, his sister Nabers Cabaniss Johnson (Chris), four nephews Henry Cabaniss Johnson (Heidi), Alexander Cabaniss, Jelks Henry Cabaniss IV, Leigh Cabaniss, and three great-nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Jelks and Anne Cabaniss, and his sister Ayn Cabaniss.