Virginia Padgett Enriquez

Jennie Joe was born in Hulbert Arkansas on January 4th 1927. Her birth certificate stated her birthdate was January 5th but her mother always told her the doctor put down the wrong date. The family always celebrated her birthday on January 4th.

Her father worked for the railroad when the depression hit and his company went bankrupt. He moved his family to the poor farm where he was the manager and Jennie Joe's mother was the cook. She had many adventures on the poor farm but her favorite activity was going with her father when he conducted tent revivals and preached the gospel. Jennie Joe loved to hear her father preach and she especially loved singing all the old gospel songs.

As a young child she was once bitten by a baby cotton mouth water moccasin. She was fortunate someone with a vehicle was nearby to take her to the hospital. As a young lady she was also in a truck wreck and broke her ankle and dented her skull but she went on to play guard for the high school basketball team.

She was a World War II bride marrying Pete Cooke in 1944. She gave birth to John Cooke in March 1945. The young family was transferred to Jacksonville Florida and lived in Riverside where Jennie took young Johnny swimming at the Good Shepherd church pool on Park Street. The family returned to West Memphis Arkansas and James Cooke was born in 1947. Jennie later obtained a divorce and with the help of her father was able to raise 2 young boys as a single mother working for an insurance agent. She was a marvelous secretary and enjoyed working.

She met Jose Enriquez on a double date. They enjoyed going dancing and often went to the Peabody Hotel. They danced to the big bands like Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Les Brown on the rooftop. When Jose received orders to relocate he proposed and they were married on October 24, 1953. They moved the family to Japan.

As a Navy wife Jennie traveled a lot. Janene was born in Pensacola FL in 1955 and Jocelyn was born in Millington TN in 1958. The family also lived in Washington state and San Diego CA before moving to Okinawa in 1963. Jennie loved living overseas and took advantage of all the military 'perks'. She was able to travel all over Asia and shop in Saigon, Taiwan, and Bangkok. She loved being a Navy wife. She enjoyed playing bridge and teaching English to the local school children. She was always very artistic and creative and was the best room mother any child could wish for while attending elementary school.

The boys had moved on by 1967 when the family moved to Jacksonville Florida. Jose was stationed at Cecil Field.

Jennie joined the Wesconnett Church of Christ where she became a preschool bible teacher. She loved teaching little ones about Christ. She made hundreds of visual aides over the 50 plus years she taught. She always knew children retained lessons better with visual reminders. Her artistic and creative mind made treasures for every Sunday and Wednesday class for the children to take home and cherish. She loved worshipping at the Wesconnett Church of Christ with all her brothers and sisters in Christ.

She enjoyed traveling with Jose. She loved her country. She loved to sew, read, garden, raise Koi fish, play Scrabble and help others become Christians.

She is survived by her daughter Janene Eberle (Gary), her grandsons John Cooke Jr. (Debbie), Michael Ryan Mulligan (Annie), her granddaughter Piper Enriquez, her great grand children Taylor Cooke (Natalie) and Haley Lowe (Austin) and her great-great grandchildren Wyatt, Emily and Colton.

A visitation for Virginia will be held Tuesday, September 14, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Wesconnett Church of Christ, 5223 Wesconnett Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32210, followed by a funeral service from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com for the ENRIQUEZ family.