Racine, WI – Bessie Ann (nee: McMillian) Jenkins was born on a beautiful day, June 9, 1933.  We know it was a beautiful day because she made her arrival here on this earth. Her mother was Hattie Morris and her father was O. B. McMillian.

Bessie accomplished her elementary and high school education at Hickory-Jasper County School in Hickory, Mississippi. During her senior year Bessie was selected and served as class valedictorian. She moved on to attend Harris Junior College in Meridian, Mississippi.  During Bessie's educational years she was in the custodial care of her grandparents, Benjamin and Silar Morris.

In 1953 she met and married Latimore Jenkins, unto this union five children were born and later Bessie was blessed, adding Christopher to the family.

In 1960 Bessie joined Greater Christian Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Hardy D. Preston, followed by Rev. Tommy L. Morris and Rev. Valdimir Gavin. Bessie was a devout member- she served as a lead singer, a choir director of the Gospel Choir and as a Deaconess. As her health began to fail, she relocated to Racine, Wisconsin. She then united with Reconciliation Ministries International Church under the leadership of a\Apostle Norris Johnson.

Bessie was passionate about learning and providing for her family. She attended Barber and Beauty School and after completion she then partnered with Mr. Kenneth Madden to open their own Beauty and Hair Design.

Bessie was an inspiration to her children. She demonstrated the love of Christ with kind words and her calming presence. She was a good mother, God first, dream big, and study hard,

Our Father in Heaven embraced and called Bessie home on Saturday, March 21, 2020. She is preceded in death by her mother, Hattie Morris her father, O. B. McMillian; one brother, Verstel McMillian and one sister, Annie Ruth McMillian.

She leaves to celebrate her life, six children Faynette (Bernard) Brown of Richton Park, Illinois, Petrice (Curtis ) Coburn of Waukegan, Illinois, Monica (Kenny) Brown and Bridgett Robinson all of Racine, Wisconsin, Randolph Jenkins of Chicago, Illinois, John Christopher (Kenya) Madden of Chicago Illinois; one sister Eula Mae (Roosevelt) Grant of Chicago, Illinois; one brother Otis (Margret) Ford of Detroit, Michigan; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews as well as family and friends too many to list but equally loved.

Services for Sister Jenkins will be live streamed from Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 4:00pm. Only the IMMEDIATE FAMILY will be present at the funeral home. You may witness this service live by accessing the live stream link https://youtu.be/yiYm_rD6yGI starting at 3:45pm and service will begin at 4:00pm).

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