"A Life Well Lived"

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like my fathers."   Psalm 39:12

Harold Edmond Jenkins Sr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and active member of the Mitchell County community, passed away peacefully and quietly at his home on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, surrounded by his loving wife, Silvana, and several members of his Phoebe Hospice team.  Born on December 31, 1952, to the late Ella Dawson Jenkins and the late George Jenkins, Sr., Harold was the fifth and youngest child of the family. He grew up in Camilla, attended Camilla Consolidated High School, and later received his diploma from Atlanta's Frederick Douglass High School.

For most of his early years growing up in Camilla, Harold roamed the neighborhood with his best friend and protector, Ringtail, by his side. Ringtail was a dog that Harold had rescued from a ditch when Ringtail was small enough to stand up and turn around in the back of a toy Tonka Truck.  Ringtail grew large enough to make anyone walking by the Jenkins yard tread lightly.

A heartfelt love for people, he lived by the creed he never met a stranger and made those new to his circle feel welcomed and accepted.  A genuine and infectious smile, his laughter filled a room.  His jokes could make everyone in the room laugh hysterically. His children saw him as jovial and laughed gleefully when he did voice impressions, particularly, Donald Duck.
His devotion to Saint Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church was unwavering.  He was always available to answer the call for Saint Peter whenever and wherever needed.  Not only a regular Sunday School attendee, he drove the church van on Sundays to deliver children and adults to church services.  He also served on the Saint Peter Trustee Board, previously as Pro Tem for several years. His tenor voice, with an excellent range, could be heard singing in the choir, and as part of the 3-member Saint Peter Praise Team.

His love for his Mitchell County community extended to activism by driving voters to the polls for local, state, and federal elections. During Barack Obama's 2008 run for the White House, Harold knocked on doors in both Mitchell and Dougherty Counties to help "rock" the vote. He served for more than a decade and was still a member of the City of Camilla Development Authority at the time of his passing. He was last employed full-time as a bus driver for the Mitchell County Board of Education and always greeted his riders with a hearty good morning and worked to ensure that the students had safe and reliable transportation.  Harold gained experience as a professional bus driver with the New Jersey Port Authority and Academy Tours while residing in Irvington, New Jersey with his family.

His individualistic spirit shone through in his personal and professional life. In Mitchell County and surrounding communities, Harold was recognized as a skilled carpenter. He chose to do things his way, always with a flair of originality and a touch of class. His early passion for fashion made him an excellent seamstress, sewing his own clothing, always done with sophistication and style.

Harold possessed a deep love for everything Georgia and could always be found cheering on the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Braves, and the Georgia Bulldogs. His competitive spirit extended to his love for card games, where he was a master Spades and Bid Whist player.

Not every soul who walked on God's green earth, sat under the umbrella of God's blue skies, and basked in the warmth of God's benevolent sunshine can boast of a life well lived.  However, such can certainly be said of Harold.

Harold was a devoted family man who deeply loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and every member of the Jenkins family. Harold was preceded in death by both of his beloved parents, Ella Dawson Jenkins and George Jenkins, Sr. and his treasured older siblings, Joyce Laverne Stanford and George Jenkins, Jr.

Because his capacity for love was boundless, memories of his life will be held close to the hearts of his family. Those loving memories will forever be cherished by his wife of 23 years, Silvana Revis; his children: Damion Santrez (Kimesha), Crystal Gail (Lyman King, Sr.), Harold Jr., Jourdan Anthony (Kendra) and his bonus daughter, Ariana Raevan; his grandchildren: Lyman Ramon, Kennedy Rose, Brian Alexander, McKenzie Nicole, and Jamie Daniel.  Mourning their baby brother are his sisters, Mary J. Warren and Gloria J. Edwards (Samuel). One-of-a kind "Uncle Harold" memories will also remain in the hearts of his nieces and nephews: Brian Keith (Myisha), Richard Todd (Darlene), Karen Melissa, Patrick Joseph, Derrick Anson (Lori), Darrell Andrew, Paul Bertram, Paula Meredith, Jessica Louise, Chandra Francine, A'lana Laverne, and Carlton George (Kashontra); brothers-in-law: Curtis Clark, Anthony Revis (Linda),and John Revis (Sonji); sisters-in-law: A'lelia Jenkins and Kim Drummond (Earl); Revis nieces and nephews: Kerel, Alexandria, PriKenya, Krisica, Shakis, Kaniel, Kemel, Akeen, Keyondra, and Kendalyn; in addition to a myriad of cousins, in-laws, and friends.

Together, Harold, Silvana, and their family faced and battled Harold's health concerns with a deep faith and fierce determination that Harold would be the victor. It is with heavy hearts that we bid "Adieu" to our loved one.  We take solace that Harold now rests eternally in the presence of God where pain, sorrow, and agony will be no more.