He attended Hampton High School where he played baseball and football, graduating in the class of 1954. Duke spent time overseas while in the United States Army, then attended Virginia Tech and Ferrum College, where he played football. An avid reader, he was quite a poet and historian. He loved horse racing, football, and the beach. Both Buckroe and the beaches of Manatee County, Florida, where he was a resident for over 30 years, were some of his favorite places.
Working in banking, sales, restaurant management, sports and leisure, Duke was a bit of a “profit” as he provided creative short-term investment services, long before DraftKings and BetMGM. His appreciation of the poetry of scripture, the majesty of horses, and the intricacies of the game of football enabled him to meet many people and forge many life-long friendships.
A long-term member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, he is survived by his daughter, Lee-Ann; sons, Thomas and Mark; Grandson, Jeremiah; and a spirited Jack Russell Terrier, Jake.
Duke lived and breathed Hampton High and Hampton, VA. After returning home in 2016 he proclaimed he was “Crabber born, Crabber bred, I’ll be Crabber when I’m dead”.
A Funeral Service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 12:00PM. A reception will be held at the Hampton Yacht Club after the services at 4707 Victoria Blvd. Hampton, VA. 23669. Mr. Jenkins will be laid to rest at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, after Super Bowl LVIII. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hampton, Virginia; Willow Woods Equine Sanctuary and Farms, located at 2521 N Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA 23666.
