Alma Lorraine Jenkins, 80, of Monroe, passed away on Friday, July 3, 2015 at the Promedica Monroe Regional Hospital. She had been in poor health for 3 years.
She was born September 8, 1934 in Bell County, Kentucky to George and Edna (Jones) England. On January 2, 1953 she married Billy G. Jenkins in Yuma, Kentucky. They moved to Monroe in 1954. Sadly, he preceded her in death on August 26, 2003.
She was a professional musician, and will be remembered for being a very talented and creative person. Even though she couldn't read or write music, she could play any instrument, and sang in many competitions as a young lady, once even beating June Carter and the Carter Sisters. She attended Stewart Road Christian Ministries Center and the Monroe Missionary Baptist Church. She sang in the Happy Way Quartet, enjoyed crocheting blankets and all kinds of baby things, and also loved learning new things, including computers. She enjoyed painting and drawing, and was a avid Detroit Tiger fan.
She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Janice E. Jenkins of Monroe, Jerry (Denise) Jenkins of Monroe, and Joyce (John) Sams of LaSalle; 11 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, with 1 more due in December; and brothers and sisters, Howard (Alice) England of Rapid City, SD, Wilma Braden of Monroe, Schultz (Lorraine) England of Milwaukee, WI, Dorothy (Foye) Ellison of Monroe, and Will (Adel) England of Jacksboro, TN.
As well as her husband, she was also preceded in death by a infant son, Billy Gene Jenkins, a brother, Junior Thomas, and sisters, Edith Eastridge and Georgia Lambert.
Friends are invited to call on Tuesday, July 7, at the Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 South Telegraph Road, from 1 - 8 PM. She will lie in state at 12 Noon Wednesday, at the Stewart Road Christian Ministries Center, until her service at 1 PM. Rev. Dr. Joseph Byrd will officiate, and burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, LaSalle.