Robert Leon Jenkins Sr. (“Bobby”), 70, of Cincinnati, joined our loving Creator on Monday, November 26, 2018. He was born on September 4, 1948, in Asheville, NC to James Jenkins and Roberta Workman Jenkins.
A brave, expressive and assertive child, Bobby and his brothers played and loved baseball. He was proud to be the son of a Negro Leagues baseball player (of the Indianapolis Clowns and Detroit Stars), who was also an inductee of the Negro League Hall of Fame. Bobby played on a regional baseball league for the Spartanburg Pond Giants and Winston Salem Giants teams during his late teens through early twenties. He played center field while his father played left field at the time.
He attended Lee Edwards High School and excelled in track & field and baseball. Known for his speed, his favorite track & field events were the 880-yard (half-mile) and 440-yard (quarter mile). His brother Jimmy, who was 364 days older, held a state record his senior year. The following year, Bobby broke that record. Very competitive, he would often say to his competition, “Which one of you wants the silver? ‘Cause the gold is mine.” And it usually was. He was talented and he was lucky. People have often said that throughout his life, Lady Luck smiled on him.
He and Anne Reeves (former wife) were married and had a son (Robert Jr.). He was a student at Brevard College in North Carolina where he also competed in track & field.
When Bobby left Asheville, he moved to Cincinnati. He had four additional children in his marriage to his wife Denease. Some of the happiest memories are of his great enjoyment at family celebrations.
Bobby enjoyed life and was fiercely loyal and protective of his beloved family and friends. He was proud and excited about the academic milestones and athletic accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow up and excel at sports. To spread his legacy and joy of athleticism with others, he coached a youth basketball team. He was a hard worker; he was employed in the transportation industry and was promoted into management. From there, he moved into health care facilities management, which he enjoyed. After he retired, he utilized his management skills and was instrumental in helping to develop the family’s small business and recruit future clients.
Bobby had a great sense of humor and never met a stranger. He was generous and would give the shirt off of his back (literally) to anyone, even a stranger. He was known to support the homeless and others in need and was a wealth of community knowledge and connections. He was a true extrovert who thoroughly enjoyed meeting and sharing stories with young and old. Bobby was affectionately known as “Pops” to those who were younger who he influenced to move in positive directions. The same way he never met a stranger, he never met or was around anyone who he didn’t take in as one of his own. He maintained lifelong friendships and had a deep love of family. He was a creative person with many inventive ideas and he found joy in repurposing collectibles.
Bobby is survived by his wife Denease Joyce Jenkins and six children: Dr. Robert Jenkins Jr. (Donna) of Los Angeles, CA; stepson William Reeves of Killeen, TX; Robyn Barnard (James); Dr. Derrick Jenkins (Marsha); DaNelle “Nikki” Jenkins; and Sara Jenkins-Bird (William) of Cincinnati, OH. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Joshua, Destiny, Josiah, Dynasty, Dominique, Jonathan and Joseph; Kiley and Alex; Derrick Jr. and Aniya; Jordynn, William, Jr., Gabrielle and Aria; and his siblings James Jenkins, Jr. (Margot, and the late Connie), Rhonda Jenkins Sudderth (the late Frank), Kenneth Jenkins (Della) and Stanley Jenkins (Anne).
Family and friends are lovingly invited to Bobby Jenkins’ Celebration of Life. The first visitation will be held on Friday, December 7, 2018 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at W.E. Lusain Funeral Home (3275 Erie Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208). The second visitation will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2018 from 9 - 9:30 a.m. at St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church (9208 Daly Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45231). The funeral will be held from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m., also at St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church. Interment will be at Landmark Memorial Gardens (1600 Glendale-Milford Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45215) immediately following the funeral. Repast will be held at St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church following interment.
