Robert Jenkins Sr.'s Obituary
Robert Jenkins, Sr. was born on July 7, 1940 in Plains Dealings, Louisiana
to the late Frank and Missouri Jenkins. His brothers, Frank Jr., Walter,
Clydell, Dana, Richard, and sisters, Theresa, Joyce and Dorothy all preceded
him in death. He departed from this side of glory and transitioned to the other
side on Monday, November 2, 2020 peacefully in his sleep, at home and in
the loving care of his family.
Robert’s family moved from Plains Dealings, Louisiana to St. Louis, MO,
when he was a young boy. He professed a hope in Christ at an early age,
under the leadership of Roosevelt Brown, Sr. and was a member of Mercy
Seat Baptist Church.
He received his education in the St. Louis Public School System. Robert later
met and married Cynthia Rainey. To their union seven children were born.
His son, Robert Jenkins, Jr. preceded him in death on January 13, 2018.
Robert was a devoted father to his children and “Papa Turk” to his
grandchildren. He raised his children (as well as many others who flocked to
the family’s home daily) with love and discipline. He was a truly a jack of all
trades, with his primary job being an asphalt layer with Byrnes and Jones
Asphalt Company.
Robert loved telling people, “that parking lot at Target, I put that in...at KMart, I put that in.” He was extremely proud of his work. Yet, his passion in
life ultimately became driving his cab. Robert was a cab driver for over 44
years. Over that time, he worked for nearly every cab company in Saint
Louis, but always ended back up with Harris Cab Company, where he
operated his own private cab until he fell ill.
Robert loved going fishing with his sons and training them to work on cars,
while grilling Bar-B-Que and playing his Blues along the way. He loved his
family dearly, and protected them, along with his sister, Lorraine and all of
his nieces, nephews, and cousins fiercely.
Robert leaves to cherish his memory: his precious wife ~ Cynthia Rainey
Jenkins; sons ~ Aaron (Beverly) (Virginia Beach, VA), Charles (Nicole) and
Kenneth (LaJuan); daughters ~ Cynthia “Chele”, Angela and Lynda; one
sister ~ Lorraine Jenkins Fields; sisters-in-love ~ Vivian Bennett (Austin,
TX), Pricilla Moore (Waterloo, IA), Mary Ann French (Seattle, WA),
Theresa Montgomery (Waterloo, IA) and Barbara Jones (Tampa, FL);
brothers-in-law ~ Jack Curry (O’Fallon, IL) and Larry Rainey, Sr. (Orlando,
FL); twenty-one grandchildren; twenty-four great grandchildren; two
Godsons ~ Brian Norful and Cordell Frazier; and a host of nieces, nephews,
cousins, friends, “adopted kids”, and special friends ~ Herman and Tina
McFadden.
What’s your fondest memory of Robert?
What’s a lesson you learned from Robert?
Share a story where Robert's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Robert you’ll never forget.
How did Robert make you smile?