Shirley Ellen Jenkins

Shirley Ellen Jenkins passed away peacefully at her home in Temple, Georgia, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the age of 90. She was the widow of Harold (Bud) Jenkins, Jr. They shared 20 beautiful years together. She was the mother of 4 children, grandmother to 2 and great-grandmother to 5.
Shirley was born on May 14, 1935, in Paris, Illinois, to Harley Cravens and Edith Trott Cravens Swinford. She spent her early adulthood raising her kids and after they were grown, she went to college and graduated in December 1986. She served as the mayor of Fairmount, Illinois, for many years before relocating to Venice, Florida, where she worked at Thermotype until her retirement.
Shirley and Bud shared 20 beautiful years together. They loved spending their time at the dog park with their Jack Russell, Maggie. Shirley loved music, cooking, and was an avid NASCAR fan. If you were to ask her daughters they would say she was the greatest cook.
Shirley is preceded in death by her father, Harley Cravens, her mother, Edith Trott Cravens Swinford; her husband, Harold (Bud) Jenkins, Jr; her daughter, Julie Rigdon; her brother, David Cravens; and her sister, Nancy Cravens Boren.
She is survived by her daughters, Brenda Hopper and Jennifer (Mark) Victory; her son, Mark (Melody) Glispie; her grandchildren, Cory Glispie and Emily (Ray) Liu; her great grandchildren, Adam, Markus, Victor, Thailin, and Liliana Liu; as well as her beloved Jack Russell and companion, Buddy.
In keeping with her wishes, Shirley will be cremated. The family will have a private service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that contributions in memory of their mother be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://stjude.org.
Cremation services have been entrusted to Hutcheson's Memorial Chapel & Crematory of Buchanan.
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