Addie B (Morris) Jenkins

Addie B. Jenkins was born in Silver City, Mississippi on October 8, 1937, to the late Ollie B. Gilmore Sr and Francis Morris-Allen. Addie traded her mortality for immortality on April 16, 2024, at the Hanson Hospice Center in Lincoln Township.

At an early age, Addie gave her life to Christ and attended the Cherry Grove MB Church under the leadership of Pastor Love in Jackson Mississippi until she relocated to Chicago, Illinois in 1957 where she remained until she moved her family to Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1972. Upon arriving in Benton Harbor, she remained faithful in her walk with Christ and became a member of Pleasant Grove MB Church under the leadership of the late Pastor C.L. Woodson. Addie served in several auxiliaries, she later joined Ebenezer MB Church where she remained until her health prevented her attendance.

Addie B., the oldest of 18 siblings provided the experience, to later raise eight (8) beautiful children the Lord blessed her with in “The White House on the Hill”; as the children like to call it.

She was an avid cook, and not only was she a loving mother to her children, but she demonstrated her love beyond her four walls by opening her home to the community with a meal, and she kept a box at the front door full of hats, gloves, and scarves to pass out to those in need.

Addie was an antique collector and enjoyed cleaning, fishing, shopping (yard sales especially), sewing, hair styling, and teaching her children the value of a dollar and how to make it stretch.

Addie was a woman of strong faith and whenever asked she was always ready to give an account of the hope she had in the Lord.  She loved gospel music, especially going to singings as she called it, afternoon, and Saturday night quartet programs where she enjoyed listening to her favorites such as Lee Williams, Dottie Peoples, and Shirley Ceasar just to name a few.

 She leaves to cherish her memories:  four (4) daughters, Eula M. Taylor, Patricia A. Malone, Wanda Kaye Jenkins, and Yolanda “Kim” (David) Jones all of Benton Harbor, Michigan. Three (3) sons, Jerry L. Jenkins, Benton Harbor, Stevie W. Viel I, Jackson, Michigan, and Lawrence T. Jenkins, Paris, Tennessee. Seven (7) sisters, Norma B Viel, Benton Harbor, Benita & Ida Lang, Belzoni, Ms. Rosie Hollis & Earnestine Jones, Yazoo City, MS, Johnnie Birt, Detroit, MI, and Layunice (William) Lemon, Erie PA. Eight (8) brothers, Arthur (Carolyn) Lang, Chicago, Ill, Calvin & Terry Lang, Isola, MS, Ollie B Gilmore Jr, Geroge Gilmore, Joshua Gilmore, Emmanuel Gilmore, & Albert Lang, all of Erie, PA. One special cousin, Ethel R. Travis-Russell, Chicago, Ill, and lifelong friends, Louise Price, Rosie Lee Starling, Emma J. Hull, and Georgia Willis, all of Benton Harbor MI. Catherine Miles, Chicago, Ill. God sons, Bruce Roman and Agusta “Gussie” Daniels both of Benton Harbor, MI, Goddaughter, Cindy Carol Windmon, Nashville, TN. Twenty (20) Grandchildren, forty-seven (47) Great-Grandchildren, and nine (9) Great-Great Grandchildren. A host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ollie B. & Francis, daughter, Joyce E. Jenkins-Harris, Grandson, Kenny Jenkins, Granddaughter, Talisa A. Malone-Jones, Great-Grandson, Cassidy Fisher, two (2) God daughters, Cynthia “Footsie” Travis and Lois M. Starling-Campbell, sisters, Annette Lang, Lucille Sanders, and Emma Bell-Kelly.

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