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| Welcome to Jenkins Reunion 2025 |
This year’s Jenkins Reunion 2025, also held at Dan Ryan Woods, was even more special, bringing together a larger group of descendants of Garrison and Delia Jenkins—parents of Uncle Will, my great-grandfather Thomas (Tom), Uncle Levi, Uncle JayGou, Aunt Catherine, and Aunt Emaline. Following up on last year's Jenkins Reunion where I shared our family lineage, this post recaps the highlights, new connections made, and exciting updates on my ongoing family history projects.
Reunion Highlights
A heartfelt thank you to the Jenkins Reunion Committee, including the granddaughter of Clementine Jenkins White (daughter of Uncle Will), who invited me last year and helped organize this year’s event, alongside representatives from Tom Jenkins’ family. Their dedication made this vibrant gathering possible.
The 2025 reunion was a joyous occasion, uniting cousins from across the country with a shared focus on the descendants of Garrison and Delia Jenkins.
- New Faces: We welcomed even more relatives from the families of Tom, Uncle Levi, and Uncle Will, strengthening our bonds across generations.
- Virtual Connection: A memorable FaceTime call with a cousin from Uncle Levi’s family, who couldn’t attend, brought the reunion’s energy to them virtually.
- Looking Ahead: By voice vote, the Jenkins Reunion 2026 will take place in Memphis, Tennessee. It’s thrilling to see the reunion hit the road next year, to a city rich with our family’s history and meaning.
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| Jenkins Reunion 2025 Family Photo |
Key Family Connections
The reunion offered a prime opportunity to strengthen connections with both new and familiar relatives.
- Uncle Levi’s Family: After a year of conversations on Ancestry.com and social media, I finally connected with the grandchildren of Rev. Ellis Eugene Jenkins. They even shared a cherished photo of Cousin Ellis, a wonderful addition to our family’s story.
- Tom and Georgia’s Descendants: It was a joy to meet cousins from the families of my great-grandparents Tom and Georgia Johnson Jenkins’ children—Lucy, Delia, David, Augusta, and their last surviving sibling. Cousins from David’s family traveled from Indianapolis, Indiana and Augusta’s from Memphis, TENN. I represented my grandfather Levi, likely named after his Uncle Levi.
- Memorable Moment: I was reconnecting with one of my great-uncle David Jenkins' children, who resides in Memphis. He recalled our first meeting years ago, remarking, "He's got the look," and later affirming at the reunion, "No doubt about it."
- Aunt Delia’s Legacy: Delia’s family was well-represented, including descendants of her daughter Earnestine Harvey Bass, as well as her last surviving child, who attended with her family. (Notably another of my great-aunt's daughters - Bernice Seaton Jackson - had transitioned in May 2025.) Delia was likely named for her grandmother Delia Newman Jenkins.
- Uncle Will’s Branch: I deepened connections with the family of Uncle Will, including grandchildren of his son Hollis Jenkins and relatives of Hollis’s daughter, Valley B. Jenkins Scott. Hearing about the shared history between the families of brothers Tom and Will was a true highlight.
Looking Ahead: Blog and Family History Updates
I’m also exploring potential connections to grandpa Garrison’s possible brothers, John and Willie Jenkins, with whom DNA relationships have been established. These projects aim to preserve our history and inspire others to join the journey. If you’re reading this, you too are a family historian!
Connect and Share
- Email:
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| Email me here |
- Facebook: Add me as “The Custodian” to see the family history being shared.
- Ancestry: Request an invite to my Ancestry.com family tree. While signing up for Ancestry is free, a paid subscription unlocks more features. For a free alternative, check out FamilySearch.org, which offers unique records.