James W. "Jim" Jenkins

1937 - 2023

James W. "Jim" Jenkins met his Savior on April 3, 2023, at the age of 86, and surely was greeted with the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Jim was born on February 17, 1937, in Tickfaw, LA, where he lived the majority of his life. After earning a B.S. in Dairy Science at Southeastern Louisiana University, Jim worked an eclectic number of jobs over the years. Eventually discovering his passion for blacksmithing, Jim founded Jenkins Blacksmith Shop and proudly displayed the motto "Jesus Is Lord" on his business cards. He specialized in historical-based blacksmithing for which he was known throughout Louisiana. His beautiful hand-forged gates, hinges, and decorative hardware can be found in restoration projects in the New Orleans French Quarter, government buildings, and plantation homes throughout Louisiana. For twenty-five years Jim demonstrated blacksmithing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He also operated a blacksmith shop at the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans. As a member of the Gulf Coast Blacksmith Association, Jim often took his skills to various festivals around the state of Louisiana.

Jim was a man of remarkable intellectual curiosity, as verified by the hundreds of books in his library on every subject imaginable. He was known throughout Tangipahoa Parish for making sugar cane syrup using an antique horse-drawn mill and a cooking pan he built himself. He amassed a remarkable collection of antique tools and horse-drawn farm equipment, grew a large garden each year, and enjoyed hunting and traveling with his sons and his friends. In 1976 Jim drove a horse-drawn covered wagon representing Tangipahoa Parish from Baker, LA to Valley Forge, PA, where wagons from each of the fifty states converged to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States of America.

With all of Jim's remarkable accomplishments, what he most enjoyed were his family and his friends. If he loved you, you knew it. You knew he was FOR you, and he was praying for you. He demonstrated this love through serving others, especially as a lifetime member and Deacon Emeritus at Natalbany Baptist Church and as he attended the weekly service and bible study at the Crossbrand Cowboy Church, where he forged many friendships. Sharing his faith was important to Jim. If you knew him for any amount of time, you could expect his favorite question: "Do you know Jesus?" His love for others transcended the possibility of awkwardness, as he wanted to ensure everyone he encountered understood the good news of Jesus Christ.

Jim is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Maxine Rogers Jenkins, whom Jim often described as "the best thing that ever happened to me," children James A. Jenkins (Terry); Gwen Jenkins Vial (Donald); Roger Jenkins (Debi); David Jenkins (Debbie); and daughter-in-law Myra Jenkins Sharpe, grandsons Brian Vial (Christie); Ben Vial (Amber); Bryce Jenkins (Kailey); Dakota Jenkins; and Cade Jenkins (Brie), granddaughters Brittany Jenkins; Claire Vial Mauer (Matt); McKenna Jenkins Bregman (Martijn); Jessie Jenkins Kirkpatrick (Josh); Rylie Jenkins; and step-granddaughter Amanda Higginbotham (Chad), great-grandchildren Hannah and Clay Vial; Emilie, Elena, and James Vial; Marley and Margot Mauer; Briley Jenkins; and step-great-grandchildren Savannnah and Dawson Kelly. Jim also is survived by his treasured siblings and lifelong friends, his brother Guy Jenkins (Norma) and his sister Sue Jenkins Hamilton (Bob).

He was preceded in death by his parents Dorris and Irma Nesom Jenkins; beloved son Ronald "Ronnie" Jenkins; infant granddaughter Sarah Ann Jenkins, and step-granddaughter Elizabeth Morel Dunnington.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Nehemiah Fund at Natalbany Baptist Church.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation and funeral service at Natalbany Baptist Church, 48024 Parsonage Rd, Natalbany, LA 70451, on Saturday, April 8, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. until the start of the Funeral Service at 1:00 p.m. Pastors Danny Carter and Randy Smith will officiate with interment to follow in Mt. Stevens Cemetery.