Minnie M. Jenkins

Minnie Mae (Tiny) Jenkins, the daughter of the late Luther and Minnie Sims Jenkins, was born on May 11, 1932 in Columbia, Pennsylvania.  She grew into the neighborhood tomboy.  She helped her father on his wood truck and drove the fish and produce truck around the truckster’s circuit.  And nobody, but nobody could beat her climbing the cherry tree for the purpose of reading, sleeping, or just disappearing when she didn’t want to be found.

Minnie began teaching Sunday School in her youth.  In May of 1949, she was saved and baptized with the Holy Ghost.  In August of the same year, in the moving current of the Susquehanna River, she was baptized.  Combined with the spiritual and parental guidance given by her mother and father, the church, and those who loved her, the blessing of salvation in her life served to mold her into the beautiful, spiritual Christian that she became.

She was educated in the Columbia School System, graduating in the top third of her class in June 1950.  In the same year, the family moved to Harrisburg. where she attended the Harrisburg School of the Bible and the Thompson School of Business. Minnie was blessed with a job at the Olmstead Air Force Base where she served as a work leader.  When it phased out, she transferred to the Mechanicsburg Naval Depot where she served as a clerk and retired after 29 years of Federal Government service.

During her years in Harrisburg, she served under the pastorate of the late Elder Mack Rucker, the late Elder William Garrett, the late Elder Carl E. Hines, Jr. and currently Elder Kevin L. Scott. In the early years, there were times when only two persons would be at church – Elder Garrett would beat the drums and Minnie would play the piano. On occasion, when there was no minister available, she brought the Word and served as pastor.    She is one that “adores” Shiloh.  She has done everything from shoveling snow, building fires, to cleaning the church.  She and her sister, Carrie, even swept the roof before service could begin.  As a  matter of fact, she and Carrie did most of the work of the Lord together.  Generally, where you saw one, you were sure to see the other.  They were especially close.    She was one of the charter members of Shiloh where she has served for more than 50 years. 

At Shiloh, she is known for working in many capacities whether she wore the title or not.  She always said she needed no title to do whatever needed to be done.  Officially, she has served as Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher, Youth Advisor, Women’s Day Chairlady, Altar Guild Treasurer, Church Financial Secretary, Mission Ministry President, Vacation Bible School Coordinator, Women’s Prayer Units Coordinator, Women’s Fellowship Chaplain, Altar Guild Treasurer, The Intercessors Prayer Group and Scope Group #1 Prayer Group.

Past offices held in COGIC on the State and District level are:  State Secretary and Chairlady of YPWW; State and District Mission Board President, State Field Worker, President and Vice President of Young Women’s Christian Council, a member of District Choir and a member of The Recruits for Christ.

She was a great woman of faith, “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”.  This anointed loving, compassionate nurturer of all was consecrated as a Church Mother by the late Pastor Carl E. Hines, Jr.

She was involved in mission work for 70 years.   On Tuesday afternoons, she faithfully went to the Susquehanna Nursing Home to lend a helping hand and offer a word of cheer and comfort. She and a team of faithful saints from various churches ministered at Spring Creek Nursing Home twice a month for over twelve years.   She also volunteered at the State Hospital, the Susquehanna Center, and Dauphin Manor where she was the leader of Adopt-A-Wing at Dauphin Manor.

Mother Minnie’s mission work extended as far as Liberia where she stayed for five months with her sister, Reverend Patricia Jenkins; however, her stay was shortened because of a coup.  While there, she assisted in training and working with the members of the Liberian Shiloh Church of God in Christ.   During her leadership, Shiloh Mission Ministry assisted numerous persons and organizations by providing finances, clothing, shelter, heat, food, deeds and the Word to many who were in need both at home and abroad. Some of the organizations that Shiloh has assisted through her leadership include:  The American Heart Association; Harrisburg Chapter of American Red Cross; Bethesda Mission; Bethesda Women’s Shelter; Christian Literature Crusade; Church & Community Empowering Enterprises, Inc. (CCEE); Hemlock Council Girl Scouts; Salvation Army; Society of Volunteer Women Ministries; South Central PA Food Bank; MOSELF, INC.; Interfaith Homeless Shelter; and Youth for Christ on the Home Mission field.  On the Foreign Mission field, she has led Shiloh in aiding and assisting in Haiti, India, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, China, Brazil, Nigeria, and Jamaica; namely, the late Bishop Amos Nyema of Liberia; the late Mother Mary Goodwin and Friends for Mission; the late Elder Charles Kennedy of Kennedy Ministries; the late Mother Mary Beth Kennedy of The Community for Caring Ministry; Liberian Bookstore Staff; Bishop Francis Stuart of Shiloh in Liberia; Rev. G. Panneerselv of India; Eld. Valentine Garcia of Jamaica; Eld. Samuel Moore of Brazil; Bishop Paul of India; and Pastor Chetty of South Africa.

In 1999, Mother Minnie was instrumental in organizing Shiloh along with the Harrisburg District and Commonwealth State Churches of God in Christ in sending a 40 ft. container of food, clothing, along with an SUV and personal items to Africa.  She and Shiloh also shared in filling two barrels with beans and rice to send to Haiti through CCEE, Inc. after the 2008 hurricanes ravaged Haiti.

              Mother Jenkins traveled extensively and attended the World Pentecostal Conferences in Jerusalem, Canada, London, Zurich, Singapore and Africa.  She worked until her day was done!

              She was blessed to be born into a large, loving family of five sisters: her only surviving sister, Patricia and four deceased sisters: Susie Smith, Eliza Marbury, Druesilla Jenkins, and Carrie Jenkins; and six brothers: her only surviving brother, Allen (Connie) and five deceased brothers: George, Luther, John, Jerry survived by wife Christine, and Russell.

Amongst the many who will miss her and cherish precious memories of her are her siblings, her sister-in-law, numerous nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, cousins, devoted friends, her godchildren, and the Household of Faith.

              To God be the glory for lending us Minnie!

                                                                    Lovingly Submitted by the Family

We will be following all social distancing practices and procedures, mask are required and the family has invited 25 participants, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shiloh Church of God in Christ Mission Ministry, 5950 Derry Street, Harrisburg, PA 17111.

Services at Hooper Memorial Home, Inc. on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 11 a.m., viewing 10 a.m., burial Woodlawn Cemetery. Due to Covid-19 invitations will be extended to 25.