Vera M. Hudson-Jenkins

Mrs. Vera M. Hudson-Jenkins passed away on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Mrs. Vera M. Hudson-Jenkins is here, in this room with us. And- because she was an

extraordinary and beautiful woman of few words but a number of deeds- here is

what you may or may not have known about her.

Vera Mae Hudson Jenkins was born January 27th, 1935, to the late William Roy

Hudson and the late Elizabeth Whitehust Hudson Darden in Princeville, North

Carolina (Edgecombe County). Originally named "Freedom Hill", this community

was established by free Blacks in 1865 and incorporated as Princeville in 1885.

Vera was the eldest of three brothers; the late Eli Roy Hudson (Baltimore, MD),

the late James Edward Hudson (Baltimore, MD), and the late Julius Roland

Hudson (Baltimore, MD).

Vera was reared by her beloved paternal grandparents, the late Oscar Hudson

and the late Rosetta Hudson in Princeville. During her formative years, she spent

half of her summers in Baltimore with her parents and siblings, and the other half

visiting paternal uncles, Dr.Russell Hudson (Roanoke Rapids, NC), Lawrence

Hudson (Philadelphia, PA), Jesse Hudson (Norfolk, VA), and Claude Staton (Bronx,

NY).

Vera graduated from Princeville Elementary and Princeville Junior High School (then

known as the Tarboro Colored School) and continued her curriculum in Tarboro at

W.A. Patillo High School in 1954, where - before graduating with honors - she was

a member of the drama Club, the cheerleading squad AND the debate team while

also premiering as a debutante. She continued her education by graduating

Magna Cum Laude in 1958 from Fayetteville University (formerly named

Fayetteville State Teachers' College) with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and

a minor in French. Her education continued and was enriched at North Carolina

A&T in Greensboro, NC., North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C.,

Coppin State University in Baltimore, MD., Benedict College in Columbia, S.C.,

Northwestern State University in Leesville/Fort Johnson (Formerly Fort Polk), LA.,

and Troy University in Phenix City, Alabama.

She was baptized at the age of 5 in the Tar River (which separates Princeville from

Tarboro) by her great-uncle, the late Deacon William Bridgers of Macedonia Baptist

Church of Princeville, where she became a member while also fellowshipping at

her mother's church - Pennsylvania Ave A.M.E Zion Church- during her summer

stays in Baltimore, MD. One of Vera's most memorable summer jobs in Baltimore

was working as a cashier at the iconic Penn/Dol Pharmacy- a position that Black

women back then were generally not offered to apply for. With her signature

gumption, she made it clear that she was only interested in the cashier position

and refused to accept the usual offering of stock girl or store cleaner, telling the

owner, "I am applying for cashier or nothing at all". Remembering the looks on the

customer's faces when they saw her standing behind the register is one of her

most vivid memories. It was in Baltimore at Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion

Church that she would eventually marry then-Private First Class Robert Henry "Bob" Jenkins III of Tarboro, NC (her highs school sweetheart) in a matrimonial ceremony officiated by the Reverend George Marion Edwards on July 18, 1955.

She also worked in the office of The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper as a

proofreader, proving her brothers wrong when they told her that as a young

woman, she could only get a job there if she was willing to clean and that she

couldn't get a job delivering papers like they did.

These wouldn't be the only times Vera would defy expectations by boldly stating

how she wanted to take up space in the world, and following through on her

convictions. She eschewed her father's wishes that she attend Morgan University

(than named Morgan State College) and also her uncle Russell Hudson's desire

that she attend John C. Smith University (with him even offering her a legacy

scholarship if she went) before deciding for herself to make good on a pledge that

she made with her childhood friend Mrs. Ida Mae Williams that they would attend

Fayetteville University together. During her freshman year in at Fayetteville, she

was offered an opportunity to be a traveling companion to a doctor's wife on trips

from The Adirondacks to places as far-reaching as the French-speaking province

of Montreal. Before she accepted the opportunity, she wanted to make it perfectly

clear that she was a companion, not a domestic. On these, she spent many a

beautiful day with activities that included reading poetry, going for walks and

delighting her hosts with the fact that she was conversational in French.

Vera would also- during her junior year at Fayetteville University - go on to pledge

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., until the last night of initiation required that she

and her pledge-mates spend the night blindfolded in the woods behind campus

near a railroad track that was notoriously dangerous. Needless to say, Vera's

concern for her safety took precedence over completing this task, and-even at the

behest of her "Big Sisters" to stay-declined the request and stood on her

convictions.

These were just a few memories - which took her beyond the places of her birth and

put her in positions most would never dream of- and were as treasured by her as

being a young child helping her grandmother "loop' tobacco back in Princeville.

Vera would later tell her children, "I've done it all!".

Beginning her career as a school teacher at both of her alma maters (Princevellie

Elementary and W.A. Patillo High School) before going on to teach in the South

Carolina, Louisiana and (finally) Georgia school system. In Fort Benning, Georgia, Vera initially landed at Faith Middle School before going on to teach at Wilbur Elementary and then Stowers Elementary. Her stellar career in education encompassed more than 50 years of teaching, with numerous

certificates and awards for excellence bestowed upon her by school

superintendents before her eventual retirement in 2009. In speaking at one of

many such ceremonies- namely her Certificate of Retirement Award ceremony-

,she was quoted as saying, "Nothing gives me more gratification than the children

I teach and my children at home".

Vera was philanthropic to her three favorite charitable causes throughout her

lifetime; St. Jude's Children Hospital, The American Heart Association, and each

and every charity that she was aware of that helped to benefit military veterans.

She was a local member of the Frank D. Chester Center for Seniors, which also

encompassed the Senior Community Gym Program. She was also a long member of the W. A Patillo Alumni Association in Tarboro, NC. Vera and her husband (the now deceased Master Sergeant Robert Henry "Bob" Jenkins III) were members of

The Control Social Club of Columbus, GA, Vera serving on the auxiliary club by the name of The Controllettes.

She was also a long member of the W. A Patillo Alumni Association in Tarboro, NC. Vera and her husband (the now deceased Master Sergeant Robert Henry "Bob" Jenkins III) were members of

The Control Social Club of Columbus, GA, Vera serving on the auxiliary club by the name of The Controllettes.

It's no surprise that her favorite hobby was reading. She also enjoyed collecting an

array of cookbooks (reading each recipe!), and word puzzles were also a favorite

pastime of hers as well.

Vera leaves to mourn one son, Llewellyn Jenkins (New York City, NY); 2 daughters, LaQuetta Jenkins Clark-Bryant (Loretta Bryant) (Atlanta, GA) and Stacy Renee Jenkins (Columbus, GA); one granddaughter, LaTasia Simone Clark-Nelson (Cortney Denado Nelson, Sr.) (Atlanta, GA); 3 great-grandchildren, Cortney Denado Nelson, Jr. (Atlanta, GA), Camari Ja'Von Nelson (Atlanta, GA), Taylor Simone Nelson (Atlanta, GA), one bonus daughter, Selita Battle (Tarboro, NC) and bonus-granddaughter Natarsha Battle (Tarboro, NC); longtime dearest loved one, Harold Jones (Atlanta, GA). She is preceded in death by one great-grandchild, Tori Renee Nelson (Atlanta, GA). She also leaves to mourn a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and devoted family friends across the country.

The Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Vera M. Hudson-Jenkins will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Progressive. Service will be live-streamed (see clickable link below)

Visitation will be on Saturday, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be a private family interment held at a later date at Main Post Cemetery.

Progressive Funeral Home staff is privileged to serve the Family of Mrs. Vera M. Hudson-Jenkins.

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Services

Visitation

Feb
7

Progressive Funeral Home

4235 St. Mary's Road

Columbus, GA 31907

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Get Directions

Homegoing Celebration

Feb
8

Progressive Funeral Home

4235 St. Mary's Road

Columbus, GA 31907

11:00 AM
Get Directions