Jenkins, Jerry    

Services for Jerry Jenkins, 44, of Hallsville, will be 3 p.m. Wednesday, 
February 22, 2006, at Jay Valley Baptist Church, 2973 Jay Drive, Longview, 
with the Rev. Kevin Bright officiating. Burial will be in Crain-Smelley 
Memorial Cemetery, under the direction of Welch Funeral Home, 4619 Judson 
Road. Jerry went home to be with his Lord Sunday, February 19, 2006, at 
his home surrounded by his family and friends. Jerry was born December 
29, 1961, in Longview. He was an active member of Jay Valley Baptist 
Church, where he served as an usher. Jerry was a wonderful family man. 
He adored his children and grandchildren; they were his pride and joy. 
Jerry coached many, many teams of football, basketball, and baseball. 
He touched many young lives. Jerry's children always knew if they had 
any program or ball game, he would be in the stands or audience 
supporting them. He loved old trucks and cars and enjoyed going to the 
"Rod Runs." Jerry wrote some of the most wonderful poetry you could ever 
read. Above all, the Lord was the most important person in his life. 
Jerry always said that if you put God first, then everything else will 
fall into the right place. He worked for the City of Longview 18 years. 
Jerry is survived by his wife, Martha of Longview; mother, Pat Jenkins 
of LaPorte; father, Marvin Jenkins and wife, Loretta of Liberty City; 
mother-in-law, Audrey Goodman; five children, Jeremy Jenkins, Justin 
Jenkins, Naomi Kennedy and husband, Jeff, Bubba Suggs and wife, Cheryl, 
and Sara Hendrix and husband, Adam, all of the Longview-Hallsville area; 
five grandchildren, Josh, Jacey, Lane, Ty, and AJ; and brothers and 
sisters, Ronnie Jenkins of Gilmer, Donny Jenkins of South Carolina, 
Debbie Jenkins and Misty Booth of LaPorte, Texas, Tim Jenkins and Aaron 
Oehlert of Liberty City, and Aamie Vickrey of Houston. Jerry was preceded 
in death by his first wife, Karen Goodman Jenkins; grandparents, Delbert 
and Helen Jenkins; and grandmother, Ruth Sams. Pallbearers will be Wilber 
Ingram, Mark Blalack, Robin Nelson, Troy Dasonville, Tim Jordan, and 
Barry Bennett. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. this evening, 
February 21, 2006, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family 
requests memorials be made to Jay Valley Baptist Church, Youth Activity 
Building Fund, 2973 Jay Dr., Longview, TX 75605; or Heart'sWay Hospice 
of Northeast Texas, 1306 Pine Tree Rd., Longview, TX 75604. An online 
registry may be signed at www.news-journal.com, by clicking on the 
obituaries link.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 2/21/2006.