JENKINS, Rev. James A. (Jim)

Rev. James A. (Jim) Jenkins, 69 of Narrows, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 8th, 2015.

He was born in Michigan on March 14th, 1946 and was the son of the late Astor L. and Elisabeth Cooke Spahr. In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Doris Jenkins; and a nephew, Stephen Jenkins.

Jim grew up in Knoxville and graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College with a Bachelor’s Degree, and earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He spent 37 years as a full-time active minister in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving at churches in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Throughout his life, Jim was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church. For many years following his retirement, Jim served as a pulpit supply preacher for several churches in Giles and Monroe Counties. In 2003, Jim participated in a pulpit exchange with Chapel en li Frith in England. He was also a substitute teacher with Giles County Public Schools, served on the board of the Giles County Christian Service Mission, the Giles County Ministerial Association, the United Methodist Men’s Group, and the spiritual director of the New River Valley Emmaus Community. He loved hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains and in various state parks, spending time with his family, playing games, and serving the Lord. A loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Jim will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 28 years, Barbara M. Jenkins; two sons, Timothy Jenkins and wife Regina of San Francisco, California, Christopher Jenkins and wife Christine of Seattle, Washington; two grandsons, Turner Jenkins and Dashel Jenkins; two brothers, Alvin Jenkins and wife Marjorie of Lenoir City, Tennessee, Larry Jenkins and wife Karen of Albemarle, North Carolina; a sister, Sylvia Harlow of Augusta, Georgia; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many special friends.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 13th, 2015 at 11 AM at First United Methodist Church in Narrows with Rev. Jason Stubblefield officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery near Wikel in Monroe County, West Virginia. The family will receive friends at First United Methodist Church Monday from 6 to 9 PM. The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider First United Methodist Church; P.O. Box 398; Narrows, VA 24124.

The family is being served by Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows, (540) 726-2442, and online at riffefuneralservice.com.