Robert Jenkins

1946 - 2023

Robert Jenkins

Robert Andrew Jenkins, 77, died Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. He was born June 29, 1946, to John B. "Jack" Jenkins and Faye Jenkins at the old Brunswick Hospital. He attended St. Simons Elementary, Glynn Middle School and Glynn Academy. He went on to attend Georgia Tech, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management, on June 30, 1969. During this time he had several interesting "summer jobs" including lifeguarding and doing high-dive demonstrations with his buddy, Bubba Timbes, at the King & Prince pool, and renting out sailboats at Sea Island.

Robert entered the United Sates Naval Reserve in June 1969, as an Ensign. After participating in a naval tour of South America, he was discharged in July 1970, as a LtJG.

After getting his real estate salesman's license, he began work in 1971 for Island Development Co., his family-owned real estate company, which later added the Century 21 franchise, and received his broker's license in 1975. The company was responsible for building homes in many subdivisions on St. Simons Island, including The Marshes, Mission Asao, Sea Palms, Dunbar Acres, Glynn Haven and Nature Point. As president of Sea Oaks Inc., a custom home developer, he developed and built homes in Hartford-by-the-Sea, Ibis Cove, Spanish Oaks, and Raymond's Grant, and developed the condominium complex, Shadow Brooke Village.

After some time in real estate, he then went to Georgia Southern College, where he graduated with a Master's Degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.) in June 1977. In connection with this degree, he did a study titled "A Study of Estimated Population Growth for Glynn County, Highlighting St. Simons Island with Special Emphasis on new Housing Demand."

Robert was also a past president of the Brunswick-Glynn County Board of Realtors and president of the St. Simon Chamber of Commerce in the early 1980s, and a past president of the St. Simons Optimist Club. He was also very involved with The Island Players, including directing "Play It Again, Sam" and "Blood, Sweat and Stanley Pool," and volunteered monthly at Manna House in Brunswick as "The Tea Man."

Robert had quite the reputation for his playful competitive nature. His family fondly recalls him hustling them into games of racquetball, disc golf and beach golf and basking in glory if he won the games. He also required son-in-law Chris Stephans to learn his favorite song "House of the Rising Sun" on his guitar before allowing him to marry his daughter, Dawn. He had a kind heart and was quick to give a hug and inquire how your work and family were doing whenever he passed you by.

Robert is survived by his wife, Nancy R. Jenkins; his children, Dawn Michelle Stephans (Chris), Robert Patrick Jenkins (Nina), and Jennifer Elizabeth Jenkins (Chris); grandchildren, Lennon and Reese Ann Stephans; and his sister, Janet Adamson (Skip) of Jekyll Island. His parents and sister, Marcia, predeceased him.

The funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, at 2 PM at St. Simons Methodist Church.

Instead of flowers, please make donations to your charity of choice in Robert's name.

Family-placed obituary

The Brunswick News, November 10, 2023