Her Life
The world was made a better place on November 24, 1918 when Thelma Louise Atkins was born to the union of Henrietta Kenner and Robert Atkins in Garland City, Arkansas, across the river from Texarkana, Texas-Arkansas.
Thelma journeyed to Hodge, Louisiana with her mother when she was five years old. She attended elementary school in Hodge and Jonesboro. Later she attended Grambling High School where she received her high school diploma in 19 38. She further attended Southern University in Baton Rouge and received her B.S. degree in 1942. In 1954, she received her Master of Science degree from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She continued her studies at Hampton Institute in Hampton , Virginia; Grambling State University, Grambling, Louisiana, UCLA, Los Angeles; and Northeastern State University, Monroe, Louisiana.
She united with Galilee Baptist Church in 1930, at the age of 12. She served in the following positions at Galilee: Secretary of the Sunday School, Sunday School Teacher, Youth Director (over 40 years), Announcing Clerk (over 40 years), Assistant Church Clerk; Chairperson of Program Committee, Publicity Committee; Courtesy Committee; Secretary of Senior Choir; Secretary of the Pastor’s Aide; Vice President and Teacher of the Mission Society.
She was united in holy matrimony on August 2, 1940 to J.R. Wilson, and remained married until his death in 1971. On January 18, 1976, she married Willie Jenkins.
She was a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., the Homemaker’s Club, Jackson Parish Teacher’s Retirement Unit (Vice President and Secretary), and AARP (secretary). She taught in Jackson Parish for 30 years, and served as Director for the Galilee Day Care of 8 years.
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