Billie Irita Kelley Jenkins

Billie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 4, 1937. She graduated from Central High School in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1955, and obtained an Associate’s Degree from Hinds Junior College in 1957. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1959, where she studied speech pathology. She later obtained a Master of Education degree from Mississippi State University in 1982.

Billie had a long career as a speech therapist. Her first job out of college was with Magnolia Speech School. She gave private instruction part-time while raising her four daughters. Later, she returned to the workforce as a therapist for 20 years with the Jackson Public School System.

She loved to sing and throughout her life was active in church choirs at Parkway Baptist Church in Clinton, Mississippi, where she was a member for 71 years. Most recently, she sang with the senior adult choir at Parkway and learned to play the ukulele. She was a talented cook and was known especially for sharing her caramel pies that her mother taught her to make. She loved her family and always had great joy in caring for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her beloved husband of 64 years.

Billie will be remembered for her faith, calming reassurance, kindness, wit, self-sacrifice, and love of her Lord and others.

She was preceded in death by her parents, W.I. and Norma Kelley; two sisters, Bethana Kelley and Irvita Kelley Moffat; and one brother, John Kelley.

She is survived by her husband, Marion Jenkins; sister, Gail Kelley Shelton (Mack) of Brandon, Mississippi; and four daughters: Vivian Watson (Bill) of Rockwall, Texas; Dia Welch (Dennis) of Madison, Mississippi; Merrie Smith (Ronnie) of Meridian, Mississippi; and Deborah Purvis (Luke) of Raymond, Mississippi; as well as 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Parkway Baptist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18 ESV