Petra Jennings

Services for Petra Jennings, 47, of Temple will be 2pm Saturday, March 9th, at Canyon Creek Baptist Church in Temple. The Service will be officiated by Pastor Josh Murray and Eulogized by her “Texas Dad”, Glenn Lackey.

Petra went to be with her heavenly Father on Feb. 17th, 2024 at Baylor Scott & White Continuing Care Hospital after a short battle with the West Nile Virus.

Petra was born on April 15th, 1976, in Brno, Czechoslovakia to Zdenka and Ladislav Drlicek. Petra participated in a student exchange program and was part of the 2nd group of students to come to the U.S. from Czechoslovakia. Petra graduated from Glencoe High School in Glencoe, AL in 1994 where she competed in Track and Field, winning the Class 3A State Championship in the 100-meter sprinting competition. Petra went on to complete her Associate of Liberal Arts Degree at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, AL in 1996 and then returned to the Czech Republic. During her time back in the Czech Republic, Petra worked as a private tutor teaching native Czechs to speak English and she also worked in a private school doing the same. In her tenure, she was able to help lead field trips to London and other parts of England so the students could get a hands-on opportunity to speak and interact with the English language.

In the summer of 2001, Petra decided to immigrate back to the U.S. to reunite with William Jennings whom she had met during high school. Petra and William were married in November of 2001 and resided in the Silver Lakes/Wellington/Ohatchee area until 2015. During that time Petra worked with numerous companies in retail and retail sales. In 2011, Petra convinced William to take his God given talent and industry knowledge to form NOVY Inc. NOVY, which translates to the Czech word for NEW, has become Petra and William’s legacy and will always stand as a beacon of light and to be the epitome of the Blessings from God Above.

In December 2015 Petra and William relocated to Temple, TX. During Petra’s time in Temple, she enjoyed being a homemaker and spending time with her and William’s best friend who had made the journey from Alabama, a 90-pound Black Lab/Rottweiler mix named Bud. Bud was a dear friend and part of the family for over 16 years until he passed away in the spring of 2023.

Both in Alabama and in her short time in Texas, Petra enjoyed working with numerous ministries and churches to assist the unfortunate and those who needed an extra hand in life. She was happy to help provide a kind word and a hot meal at the “Way of the Cross” ministry in Alabama City area of Gadsden, and she would help organize food and clothing donations to be given away at “CTLC” (Churches Touching Lives for Christ) in Temple. She also greatly enjoyed helping keep the floors and the facilities clean at CTLC and to welcome anyone who was coming in the doors.

Petra was preceded in her death by both grandfathers and her maternal grandmother, as well as her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Wayne and Diane Jennings, both of Glencoe, Alabama and her mother Zdenka of Brno, Czech Republic. She is also survived by loving husband of 22 years, William, her father, Ladislav, as well as her brother Martin Drlicek and his children Jana & Danicek along with numerous other loving family members in the US and Europe.

Petra’s sole purpose in her life, was to tell every person possible about her gracious and loving savior, Jesus Christ. Petra spent countless hours trying to study and read as much as possible from her numerous Bible’s in various languages and translations, as well as many historic commentaries. She truly went about doing “Her Father’s Business”.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either of the two following charities or any charity that donates most of their proceeds to assisting “The Least of These”, the homeless and hungry. She committed her life to working with them to make these individuals’ lives better.

In Alabama:

Way of the Cross - Food Distribution Center

101 N 24th St, Gadsden, AL 35904

Phone: (256) 543-1003

In Texas:

Churches Touching Lives for Christ - Food Pantry

702 W Avenue G, Temple, TX 76504

Phone: (254) 778-6885