Sarah Evelyn Epps Jenkins was a retired educator.
Jenkins died July 21, 2012, at home. She was 92.
Jenkins was the daughter of the late Ryland C. and Estelle Brooks Epps. She was born March 13, 1920, in Richmond, Va. She was the third child and first-born daughter of nine children.
Jenkins received her primary education in public schools in Richmond, Va. She double majored in English and history at Virginia Union University, graduating in 1942 and started her career teaching elementary school in a one-room school house in Amelia County, Va.
She worked for the Signal Corps and as a case worker for the Philadelphia Department of Public Welfare, becoming a full-time homemaker after having two children. When her youngest child was five, Jenkins restarted her teaching career as a long-term substitute teacher at the Hawthorne School.
She became a permanent teacher at Roosevelt Middle School where she taught for 20 years; created the “Most Improved Student Award” and proctored the World Affairs Council academic competition. She cherished her membership in the Educator’s Roundtable professional organization until her retirement in 1980.
At 23, she married her childhood friend, Francis Aloysius Jenkins, moved to Philadelphia and eventually purchased a house in Mt. Airy. The Jenkinses raised eight children who were all educated and confirmed at St. Madeleine Sophie Church.
Jenkins remained active in St. Madeleine Sophie Church parish life. She also enjoyed a vivacious and exciting life away from work. She was an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Omega Omega Chapter for 70 years. Jenkins established the AKA Calendar Girl college scholarship fundraiser after she established the Estelle Brooks Epps Scholarship at Virginia Union University to honor her stay-at-home mother.
Although Jenkins remained independent well into her eighties, her primary care givers toward the end were her children and Certified Nursing Assistants Cynthia Thomas and Maritza Sanders.
Jenkins is predeceased by her brothers and sister, Lenord, Hilton, Walter, Hundley, Berkley, Doris and Clinton.
She is survived by her children, Francis Jr., Joseph, Rylanda (Wilson), Berkley, Julian, Deanda (Logan), Estelle (Allie) and Sarah Jr.; sister, Josephine Epps Furman and husband Livingston; sisters-in-law, Melba Clinton Epps and Esteletta Berkley Epps, all of Richmond, Va.; daughters and sons that she did not birth but regarded as her children, Donna and Billy Knox, Patricia Robinson Burns and Valerie Murray; 100 cousins, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, as well as other relatives and friends.
Services will be held July 26 at Saint Madeleine Sophie Church, 6440 Greene Street. Viewing is at 7:30 a.m. Services will follow at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Beverly National Cemetery in Burlington County, New Jersey.
Emmanuel Johnson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
