Reverend Thurmond Jenkins, Sr., 78, 41 Arrow Head Lane, Stuarts Draft, Virginia, died Sunday, July 31, 2011 at his residence.

He was born October 21, 1932 in Nettie, West Virginia the son of the late Reverend Kennerson Henry Jenkins and Carrie Vivian Cole Jenkins. On November 16, 1951 he married Betty Jean Gumm of Stuarts Draft. In 1971 Reverend Jenkins retired from the United States Army as a Sergeant First Class, having served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He became an ordained minister in 1982. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign War in Stuarts Draft; and was a member and the Pastor of Ogelscreek Baptist Church in Covington, Virginia.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Jean Jenkins of Stuarts Draft, four children, Debora Lee Gillespie & husband Howard of Savannah, Georgia, Denise Christina Ginsburg of Birmingham, Alabama, Pamela Gail Dressler & husband Danny of Stuarts Draft, Virginia and Thurmond E. Jenkins of Denton, Maryland; two sisters, Carrie Jane Jones of Jacksonville, Florida and Patricia Pike of Jacksonville, Florida; 9 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Jeanett Leary.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at the Mountain Grove United Methodist Church with Reverend Jason Cochran officiating. Interment will be in the Mountain Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at McLaughlin & Young Funeral Home.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Mountain Grove Cemetery Fund, c/o Janice O’Farrell, 5792 Mt. Valley Road, Warm Springs, Virginia 24484.