Mrs. Effie Marie Jenkins

Effie Marie (McKinney) Jenkins was born on August 14, 1916 in Rockford, Alabama. She was the second oldest child born to Ocea and Elizabeth Goldthwaite McKinney. Her stay in Alabama was short because at the age of six months the family moved to Hamtramck, Michigan. Effie was educated in the Hamtramck Public Schools system and graduated in 1933. Effie went to Wayne State University for one year but was unable to continue due to the depression. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at First Baptist Institutional Church under the pastorate of the Reverend H.H. Coleman. Effie was united in holy matrimony in 1936 to Maurice Donald Jenkins. They were married for 44 years until he passed away in 1980. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Maurice Bernard, Meryl Sidney, Donald Edward and Ronald Eugene. Effie was a very active person. She was a member of the Dorician Chapter #32 of the Eastern Star, a member of the Daughters of Isis and Marracci Temple #32. Her husband Maurice was a member of the Prince Hall Masons and they traveled extensively in support of the Masonic Order. Effie was a longtime member of the Bowling League and the Drill Team and continued to support the order after Maurice passed away. Effie was an employee of the Detroit Board of Education for 34 years and spent 30 years as the locker room attendant at Durfee Middle School. She "retired" in 1982. Because she lived in close proximity to the school after retirement, she was well known by everyone. Her former students and her former student's children continued to stop by and visit with her when she was well into her nineties. Effie loved to play the piano, read, dance and was an exceptional cook. Everyone loved her delicious rolls, cakes, pies and homemade ice cream. She loved playing games with her grandchildren and somehow always found a way to win. She loved life, she loved her family, and she was proud of the fact that she lived to witness the election of the first Black president of the U.S.A. She continued to travel with family members long after her husband passed away and never complained when rheumatoid arthritis changed her life. She was a strong, proud role model and passed her values and positive, happy view of life on to her family and all who were lucky enough to travel with her on her journey through life. Effie made her transition to eternal rest on April 12, 2013.

Mrs. Effie Marie Jenkins

August 14, 1916 - April 12, 2013