Velzora Jenkins

VELZORA "ZOLA" JENKINS
December 31, 1948 - February 19, 2026

In loving memory of Mrs. Velzora Jenkins, daughter of the late James and Geneva Jennings of Kankakee, Illinois. She was born on December 31, 1947, in Caruthersville, Missouri, and was raised in Hayti, Missouri.

She was the devoted wife of Monroe Jenkins, Jr. for 59 years. The two were united in holy matrimony on October 22, 1966.

Preceding her in death were her parents, James and Geneva Jennings; three sisters, Ella Mae Austin, Johnnie Mae Bell, and Lettie Jennings; two brothers, Charles Ray Jennings and Ezell Jennings; her daughter, Marilyn Monroe; her grandchild, Crystal Jenkins; and two aunts and two uncles.

Velzora, affectionately known as "Zola," confessed her faith in Christ at an early age of 13 and was baptized at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. She was filled with the Holy Spirit under the leadership of Pastor Bernard Kinard. She graduated from Hayti Central High School and continued her adult education at St. Louis Community College. She was a kind, caring, and giving person who always put the needs of her family before her own. Along with her uncle, Frank, she spearheaded the first Hollinhead Family Reunion, the family May birthday celebrations, and Thanksgiving and Christmas family dinners. She was a strong woman who faced every challenge in life with courage and dignity. She stressed the importance of family, hard work, and doing what was right. She was a source of inspiration and will be deeply missed by all whose lives she touched.

Velzora believed in working hard and making an honest living. She was a dedicated worker throughout her life, beginning as a warehouse worker, then serving as a teacher in the Special School District, and later retiring from the City of Pine lawn, Missouri, as Assistant City Manager. She will forever be remembered for her passion for giving. She loved helping people in need, which led her to open the first Outreach Center in Pine lawn, Missouri, where she worked until her health began to fail. Even then, she continued to give and help others until her passing.

Velzora left the land of the dying and entered the land of the living on February 19, 2026. She leaves to cherish her precious memory her loving husband, Monroe Jenkins, Jr.; two children, Monroe ((a.k.a. Carl)) (Joyce) Jenkins III and Diana (Leroy) Johnson, both of St. Louis, Missouri; and the children she lovingly co-parented with her favorite aunt, Lettie Booker: Patricia Caviness of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Earnestine (Ilam) Dumaka of Missouri & Texas; Edwina (Richard) Williams of St. Louis, Missouri; and Anthony (Stephanie) Booker of Cypress, Texas. She is also survived by four sisters, Dorothy Jones and Charlene Adams of Kankakee, Illinois, and Carolyn Brown of Dayton, Ohio, Jackie McElroy of Manteca, CA; and a chosen sister Patricia Loggins of Fort Wayne, Indiana; three brothers, Fred Jennings and DeRandy Jennings of Sikeston, Missouri, and Keith Jennings of Pen Oak, Illinois; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Velzora Jenkins, please visit our floral store.