Lynwood "Woody" Jenkins

2025 - 2025

Lynwood "Woody" Jenkins

November 25, 2025 - October 11, 2025

Lynwood "Woody" Bruce Jenkins died peacefully after a day surrounded by family and friends in his home in Powhatan, Virginia, on October 11th following a 10-month battle with cancer. He leaves behind his loving wife of 44 years, Virginia "Penny."

Woody embarked on a life of service working as a house parent to underprivileged youth in Baltimore, Md. He went on to work as integration coordinator for Morgan State University, afterwards serving as a Human Resources director in life care facilities in the Baltimore and Philadelphia areas. When he returned to Virginia, he became a real estate broker at Lake Anna. After a near-fatal automobile accident, Woody responded to his original calling to become a pastor, entering seminary at age 56 and earning Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. He served at Southampton Baptist Church in South Richmond and Elk Creek Baptist Church in Mineral, Virginia, until he retired. In between pastorates, he worked in the development office at Baptist Theological Seminary of Richmond.

When not at work, he was involved in helping family, friends, and community with whatever needed fixing. He helped coach his sons' baseball teams and cheered loudly at his grandsons' various games. He was the first President of Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity in Baltimore and Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Habitat for Humanity and finally served Habitat with his wife as volunteer Mid-Atlantic Regional Directors approving new projects in five states, including Richmond HFH as well. He went on mission trips to Slovakia, Panama, and Brazil. He helped to establish the Rural Institute for Theological Education in the Goshen Baptist Association to provide undergraduate studies for adults in rural counties with many students going on to pursue seminary degrees. He joined the Goochland County Fire and Rescue Department in 2002, primarily driving an ambulance for many years. Woody soon saw the need for chaplaincy services for patients, families, and even the FEMS staff themselves, and that came to fruition for FEMS and the Sheriff's department.

Woody was predeceased by his parents, Hugh E. and Hattie C. Jenkins; his half-brother, Harold Stoneburger, and his brother, Robert. In addition to Penny, he also leaves his sister, Mary Kathryn Richardson, and brother, James Jenkins (Joyce); his first wife, Nancy Jenkins; and also his son, David; and stepchildren, Laurel Nelson (Brooks), Ronald Mattson (Pamela), and Michael Mattson (Rebecca); and his grandchildren, Syd (Katie), Matthew, James, Simon, and Reid. He also leaves Hung Pham, Brian Roskow, and Brian Giesler who each lived in his and Penny's home as young men.

Among his many joys were hunting, fishing, traveling the open road in his RV, and loving on his many dogs over the years, so we add Bodie and Kylie, the last of the pack.

A celebration of life is planned for Monday, November 24th at 11 a.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1925 Grove Ave., Richmond, Virginia 23220, followed by a time of fellowship with the family. The service will be available on live-stream. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Tabernacle Baptist Church Endowment Fund or Richmond SPCA.