Mr. John Winston Franklin Jenkins went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 24, 2023, following a brief battle with cancer. He was 79.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 30, 2023 at Memorial Park South Chapel with interment following at Chattahoochee Baptist Church Cemetery. Rev. Jeff Jenkins and Rev. Gary Wilson will officiate. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at Memorial Park South Funeral Home.
Winston was born April 13, 1943 to the late Claud E Jenkins & Cora Bell Strickland Jenkins in Flowery Branch, Georgia. He graduated from South Hall High School in 1961 and went to work for Georgia Boot Co. He became reacquainted with Elaine Harris when she moved back to Flowery Branch in 1962. They married March 8, 1963. After his birthday that year, he was old enough to be hired at General Motors in Doraville, and he and Elaine started to build their family. Over five years, they welcomed three children. During that time, Winston built their house on family land and later built a home next door for his mother. He would grow a large garden each summer to feed his family and often share the bounty with others. He served for many years as a deacon at Chattahoochee Baptist Church, and he and Elaine returned to the church in recent years. Winston was able to enjoy a long retirement after his 30 years with General Motors. He continued to work hard but also was able to attend many of his grandsons’ sporting events and activities. He expanded his gardens and gardening expertise, rebuilt his childhood home, and went about restoring the barn his father had built in the 1920s. He also did volunteer work for the Good Samaritan and Disaster Relief ministries of the Chattahoochee Baptist Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Claud E. & Cora Bell Jenkins. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elaine Harris Jenkins; children, Lissa & Bill Shirley, Lorrie & Kevin Griffith, and Jeff & April Jenkins; grandchildren, Will Shirley, Jake Shirley, Win & Kathleen Griffith, Asher & Grace Griffith, Jeffrey Jenkins, Jr., Clayton Jenkins, & Owen Jenkins; great-granddaughters, Eliza Griffith & Florence Griffith; sister, Claudine Elinburg; sister & brother-in-law, Sue & Kenneth Moore; and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Special thanks to the staff of Heart of Hospice for their loving support during his illness.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Good Samaritan or Disaster Relief through the Chattahoochee Baptist Association, www.cbamissions.org, are encouraged.
Memorial Park South Funeral Home, 4121 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 is in charge of arrangements. Send on-line condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.
