Obituary On Friday, June 24, 2022 at 12:15 PM, John Weldon Jenkins departed this life at McGuire’s Veterans Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, with his niece, Darlene and nephew, Thomas, at his bedside. John was born August 12, 1930 in Prince Edward County, Virginia to Thomas Ray Jenkins and Alice Jones Jenkins. He was the eighth of nine children, all of whom, along with his parents and wife, Eva Jenkins, preceded him in death. John left home early in his teen years, to live with his Aunt Pearl in Lynchburg, VA. He joined the army at age 18 and served for six years. During his time in the military, he received the National Defense Service Award, United Nations Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged November 23, 1956. After his discharge, John returned to Lynchburg for a while before moving to New York to live. He was employed as a building custodian for Hadson Realty, a division of Haddad and Sons, Ltd, 350 5th Avenue, New York City, New York. After 30 years of service, he retired and returned to Virginia. John was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of US, Post #542, New York, where he received a certificate of appreciation. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Spragg-Watson-Paige Post #2584, Darlington Heights, VA. He was an active member of Peaks Baptist Church. John always dreamed of having his own home, which he built on Elam Road in Pamplin, VA. He loved his home and even though he entertained friends there “New York Style” on occasion, he enjoyed being alone. He visited family members often, and then it was right back to his home. He loved to play the lottery in hopes of “Hitting the Big One”. He loved little children and would always buy goodies for those whose parents he knew. He walked a lot and kept active. He rarely complained about aches and pains. He would mention his forgetfulness because he always wanted to keep his appointments for medical wellness checkups at the VA Hospital in Richmond. In February, 2022, he had a bad fall which required surgery on his neck. His health began to decline after surgery and after many readmissions to the hospital, he became unable to live in his home alone. He then moved in with his nephew, Thomas. After suffering a stroke and being diagnosed with dementia he was admitted to the McGuire Pallative Care Unit/ Hospice. John leaves to cherish his memory: his nieces, Elaine Ross, Mattie Ross, Joyce Jackson and Darlene Jordan; nephews, Thomas

Jenkins, David Jenkins, and James Jenkins and many great and great- great, nieces and nephews; a special friend, Francis Scott; a dear

cousin, Fred R. Jones; as well as many other cousins and relatives.