An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Archives

NEWS | Jan. 17, 2013

Denver community, Colo. Guardsmen celebrate lost Soldier’s life

By Sgt. Brandy Simmons Colorado National Guard

The son of a reverend and an ordained minister himself, Sgt. 1st Class Mark DWayne Jenkins lived to serve others.

Jenkins, a supply noncommissioned officer with Theater Special Operations Detachment-Korea, lost the battle against leukemia Jan. 3 in San Antonio with his family by his side, but it was his life that all of his families came together to celebrate Jan. 16 when he was laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver.

A Colorado National Guardsman, father and devoted husband, Jenkins’ funeral served as a combined reunion, celebration and church service for everyone who loved him.

“I didn’t know my dad had so many people in the world,” said Zhane Brooks, his daughter. “It’s great that we could all come and be a family.”

Family and friends shared stories, from Jenkins’ delicious pancakes on Saturday mornings to his willingness to go to bat for anyone he considered family.

“I’ve cried, but at the end of the day, my dad did not like criers,” Brooks said. “He’d be laughing at (anyone) crying out there.”

So his father, Rev. Johnny Jenkins, held “church” to celebrate instead, recounting stories of his son (unsuccessfully) using Jesus and the scripture to get out of a spanking.

“My baby fought a good fight,” he said. “It stole his strength, it stole his stamina, but it could not steal his joy. ...We didn’t come here for a somber occasion.”

The family encouraged everyone who loved Mark Jenkins to tell stories, sing and laugh. These services, he said, would not be used for mourning. His mother took credit for his bizarre sense of humor, his wife thanked God for their short years together, and his former commander, Lt. Col. Adam Silvers, administrative officer with the 89th Troop Command, praised Jenkins’ sense of humor and loyalty to all of his families. Jenkins’ last gift was a reunion, he said.

“Rest in peace, my friend, we’ll take it from here,” he said.

Jenkins is survived by his wife Darlene Ashley-Jenkins, his daughters Meagan Jenkins and Zhane Brooks, his mother Sharon Major, brothers Gary Jenkins and Johnny Jenkins, sister Jaquay Brewster and stepbrother Armand Franklin.

 

 

The son of a reverend and an ordained minister himself, Sgt. 1st Class Mark DWayne Jenkins lived to serve others.

March 2024 (5)
February 2024 (1)
January 2024 (3)
December 2023 (5)
November 2023 (3)
October 2023 (6)
September 2023 (2)
August 2023 (3)
July 2023 (6)
June 2023 (4)
May 2023 (6)
April 2023 (2)
March 2023 (2)
February 2023 (2)
January 2023 (6)
December 2022 (5)
November 2022 (5)
October 2022 (2)
September 2022 (7)
August 2022 (5)
July 2022 (3)
June 2022 (7)
May 2022 (3)
April 2022 (4)
March 2022 (3)
February 2022 (4)
January 2022 (5)
December 2021 (7)
November 2021 (3)
October 2021 (2)
September 2021 (2)
August 2021 (6)
July 2021 (4)
June 2021 (1)
May 2021 (5)
April 2021 (5)
March 2021 (5)
February 2021 (2)
January 2021 (3)
December 2020 (3)
November 2020 (7)
October 2020 (6)
September 2020 (6)
August 2020 (8)
July 2020 (9)
June 2020 (7)
May 2020 (10)
April 2020 (9)
March 2020 (2)
February 2020 (4)
January 2020 (5)
December 2019 (6)
November 2019 (2)
October 2019 (8)
September 2019 (4)
August 2019 (7)
July 2019 (5)
June 2019 (2)
May 2019 (6)
April 2019 (9)
March 2019 (2)
February 2019 (2)
January 2019 (3)
December 2018 (4)
November 2018 (6)
October 2018 (2)
September 2018 (3)
August 2018 (9)
July 2018 (1)
June 2018 (1)
May 2018 (1)
April 2018 (5)
October 2017 (1)
May 2017 (1)
April 2017 (2)
March 2017 (2)
February 2017 (3)
January 2017 (1)
November 2016 (1)
October 2016 (2)
September 2016 (5)
August 2016 (3)
July 2016 (4)
May 2016 (2)
April 2016 (3)
March 2016 (1)
February 2016 (4)
January 2016 (1)
December 2015 (1)
November 2015 (3)
October 2015 (3)
September 2015 (2)
August 2015 (1)
July 2015 (1)
June 2015 (2)
May 2015 (3)
March 2015 (1)
February 2015 (1)
October 2014 (1)
September 2014 (1)
June 2014 (1)
April 2014 (1)
May 2013 (1)
April 2013 (4)
March 2013 (8)
February 2013 (9)
January 2013 (7)
November 2012 (1)
April 2012 (2)
January 2012 (1)
March 2010 (1)