Anita McBride Jenkins, eldest daughter of Samuel Eldridge and Beulah V. Kutcher McBride, and wife of Thomas F. Jenkins, passed away on Friday, May 9, 2014, at home with family in Winnie, Texas. Anita was born on June 8, 1919, and would have celebrated her 95th birthday this year.
Anita was a lifelong resident of Winnie, Texas. She was Salutatorian of her 1938 East Chambers Consolidated School District High School Class, attended Texas Women’s College, and graduated from Port Arthur Business College. Anita married Thomas Frank Jenkins on March 8, 1941. Together they conducted successful rice farming and owned local agribusiness. Even after Tom’s death in 1990, she continued an active role in the management of the farm operations and M & J Fertilizer and Chemical agribusiness. She was an active member of St. Louis Catholic Church, the Altar Society, a former member of the Parrish Council, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and an avid supporter of The Texas Rice Festival.
She is survived by her children, Jeffery Thomas Jenkins and his wife, Sheri; Sharon Cecilia Jenkins Burgess, David Barkley Jenkins and his wife, Carman; and Steve Woods Jenkins and his wife, Therese. Anita was proud of her twelve grandchildren, Tom, Christopher, Jessica, Barkley, Steven, and Travis Jenkins, Rachel McGreevy, Holly and Briet Steel, Cody Billeaudeau, Erika Fattori, Evan Alvarez; ten great-grandchildren, Chase, Trevor, Kaden, and Mia McGreevy, Meagan and Adam Steel, Sam Billeaudeau, Daijsha, Tayla, and Xander Fattori, and great-great-grandchild Grayson Ross; sisters, Emily Dale and Mary Leslie “Pit” Huddleston and her husband, Archie, all of Winnie; a host of other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband of fifty years, Tom Jenkins; brothers, Francis McBride, Bill McBride; granddaughter, Lisa Jenkins; great-grandson, Danny Steele.
A gathering of Mrs. Jenkins’ family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m., Monday, May 12, 2014, at Broussard’s, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie, Texas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 13, 2014, at St. Louis Catholic Church, 315 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie, Texas, with interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Complete and updated information may be found at www.broussards1889.com.
