Gerald Reynard Jenkins

Gerald Reynard Jenkins was Born to Donald Oliver Jenkins and Sara Elizabeth Jenkins on July 6, 1948, in Los Angeles, CA.  Gerald was the fourth of seven children. The family moved from Los Angeles to      Compton, California in 1952.

Gerald moved to Nashville to attend college in 1976. Shortly after       returning from Fisk University, he attended California State University, Los Angeles and begin taking courses in business, economics and art and realized he had an interest and skill in art design, building and              construction.  He became fast friends with many Los Angeles artists and soon started learning, working with and managing the careers of local artists.  

In 1978, In Tacoma, WA, Gerald met Bertha Ward and her 10-year-old daughter, Maretta Ward. This meeting and courtship led to their marriage in 1979. The family grew in 1981 with the birth of Megan Nicole.

In July 1984, the family moved to Sacramento, CA.  In 1985, he started working for the County of Sacramento, as a Building Inspector until his retirement in 2012.  

Gerald was passionate about the education and social development of his daughters, Maretta and Megan.  He was proud of their academic and   professional achievements, and enthusiastically sung their praises.

He was a strong presence in the lives of his grandchildren and travelled frequently between Sacramento and Missouri City, TX for birthdays, school and extracurricular activities. In  Sacramento, he was active in  civic processes, including census, and election-related activities.  Gerald loved hosting the annual Sacramento 4^th of July Party for 35 years, telling lively stories even if it meant that he had to make light of himself or slightly twist the facts.  

Gerald was preceded in death by his father Donald Jenkins, mother Sara Jenkins and daughter Maretta Denise Ward.

He will be remembered for his love and dedication to his family and friends and unbridled enthusiasm for life. He loved storytelling, had    indefatigable energy, a staunch work ethic, amazing critical thinking skills, and inquisitiveness about building construction and automobile            mechanics.  

Gerald leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Bertha, daughter Megan Kalambo (Chilobe) five grand-children, Caleb, Eliana, Naomi, Levi (Missouri City, TX) and Devyn Ward (Oakland, CA), brothers: Richard Jenkins (Judy) (Santa Barbara, CA); Phillip Jenkins (Laura) (Auburn, WA); sisters Dona Evans (Minneapolis, MN); Judy Jenkins (Pasadena CA); Debra DeBose (Bonney Lake, WA); Kathryn Jenkins (Boston, MA); brother-in-law, Floyd Orr (Margaret) (Chattanooga, TN); Margaret Schwartz (Detroit, MI);  Roxie Douglas (Cleveland, OH); and a host of nieces, nephews friends and acquaintances.