Life History

Other facts

Notes

• 1940 Federal Census, Faulkner County, Arkansas, 30 April, Cypress, District 23-16, page 11B-12A, Hse #211, Owns $300
  Tucker, Jessie F Head M W 50 Grade 7 b Arkansas same place in 1935 Farmer
  Tucker, Alma Wife F W 48 Grade 7 b Arkansas same house in 1935 Housewife
  - page 12A -
  Tucker, Aretha Dau F W 7 Grade 2 b Arkansas same house in 1935
  
  Aretha lilved at the same location on the farm she shared with her husband Frank McPherson and past his death, then with her second husband Orville L Jenkins, until his death in 1987, then to the end of her life.
  
  Aretha was always loving and accepting, and loved people no matter what. Even at cost to herself, she would help others. She let people know what she thought was right and wrong, but she always had an open home and an open heart for everyone, in her family or not.
  
  The Ballard Rd address was her home for decades, from the time of her first mmarriage, when their address was the P O Box below, before the roads in the area were named, through her second marriage in May 1969, until the time she passed away in 2016.
  
  U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1
  Aretha Jenkins
  Birth Date 13 Nov 1932
  84 Ballard Rd, Vilonia, AR, 72173-9372 (1989, 1991)
  208 RR 2 Box, Vilonia, AR, 72173
  Other addresses:
  PO Box 10331, Conway, AR, 72034-0004]
  2948 Lavell Ave, Wichita Falls, TX, 76308-4106 (1995)
  
  In October 2016, Aretha had to have open heart surgery, due to blockages and the discovery that stents inserted a few years before had begun breaking down and were contributing to the blockage.  While in recovery there was considerable difficulty in regulating her blood pressure meds and conflicts with the medicine for her COPD condition.  Her stats were erratic and she also experienced a stroke.
  
  She stabilized somewhat but did not regain full consciousness, and then experienced another stroke. At this point, about 3.5 weeks after the surgery, it was discovered at that time that she had suffered an anoxic condition during the first stroke, and it now appeared that she had suffered brain damage not detected at the time of the earlier episode.
  
  Her daughter Julia was the main person informing the family through a Facebook messaging group.  On Tuesday 15 November 2016 Julia sent his note:
  "Julia.  I know I've been quiet over the last day, but I needed some time to process where we are in Mom's care. After spending extensive time with her doctors yesterday it's become clear that her lungs and her brain are not improving. They've established that when she coded on Halloween she suffered an anoxic brain injury because she was deprived of oxygen. She's become less responsive over the last few days and the EEG's show a decline in activity. Her lungs are also requiring more assistance from the vent to function.  Unless Mom and God decide otherwise, we've made the decision to transition to comfort care later this week. We'd like to give her out of town children and grandchildren time to get here. Please continue to keep us in your prayers."
  
  Aretha succumbed on Thursday 17 November 2016.  Here is Julia's annoucncement to the family.
  
  "For those who may not know, Mom went home to be with Jesus this afternoon."
  --  Julia Jenkins Willadson, Facebook Group Messaging, 17 November 2016
  
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  Martha Aretha Jenkins
  November 13, 1932 - November 17, 2016
  
  Martha Aretha Jenkins 84, of Vilonia, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on November 17, 2016. She was born to Jessie and Alma Tucker on November 13, 1932, in Faulkner County, Arkansas.
  
  In her young adult life Aretha would meet and fall in love with Climmie Franklin McPherson and marry in 1953. From this marriage four wonderful children were born; Jessie, Joe, James, and Janet. Aretha lost Climmie to a heart condition in 1967 and would later meet Orville Lee Jenkins, and fall in love again. They were married in May of 1969, and from this marriage two more beautiful children were born; Michele and Julia. Aretha spent her life as a homemaker and mother to her children. Eventually her kids would have kids of their own and Aretha who became MOM had now become GRANNY to some and GRANDMA to others.
  
  As if cleaning up after her own children wasnt enough she got a job as a custodian at the Vilonia School system where she cleaned up after hundreds of students for 13 years. Aretha retired from the school system and enjoyed her life from the comforts of her "CHAIR", and continued to help in the raising of her kids, grandkids, and now GREAT grandkids. When she wasnt working or caring for others she enjoyed spending time on her hobbies sewing and gardening and absolutely had to watch her "stories" and cant forget "wrestling" on Saturday nights. Aretha was also very involved with her church, when the doors were open she was there. She was faithful to the Lord and lived her life as a true Christian woman. Aretha left her legacy in the hearts of all of her children and her life impacted everyone around her.
  
  She was preceded in death by her father Jessie Tucker and mother Alma Frazier-Tucker, sisters Mary Collins, Ida Wilson, Genie Hammonds, Nellie Ramsey, Alice Beard, Rosalee Tucker, brothers Floyd Tucker, and Frank Tucker, first husband Climmie McPherson, and late husband Orville Jenkins.
  
  She is survived by sister, Eddith Ridout, brother, Aubrey Tucker, children, Jessie and Greg Jenkins their children Felisa and husband Bryan Fendley, Arin and wife Kristy Jenkins, and Keenon and wife Julie Jenkins. son, Joe McPherson and his children Brittany Bradley, Justin and wife Kimberlie McPherson, and Brandie McPherson, son, James McPherson and children Frankie and wife Monica McPherson, Jamie McPherson, and wife, Dayne McPherson, Tiffany Davis and Destiny McPherson, daughter, Janet Armentrout and her children Benny Ramos, Ashia and husband Jeremy Highfill, and Tony Ramos, daughter Michele Park and her children Daundra and husband Donovan Becker, Chandra Park, and Kendra Park, daughter, Julia and Stan Willadson and their children Delaney and Tate, stepson, Orville Boyd Jenkins and his wife Edith and their children Gareth and wife Lesli Jenkins, and Kevin and his wife Deborah Jenkins, twenty eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
  
  Pallbearers: Arin Jenkins, Keenon Jenkins, Justin McPherson, Ben Ramos, Tony Ramos, Frankie McPherson, Bryan Fendley and Stan Willadson.
  
  Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 pm Monday, November 21, 2016 and Funeral Service will be 1:00 pm Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at Roller McNutt Funeral Home Conway, Arkansas with interment at Cypress Valley Cemetery Vilonia, Arkansas.
  --  Roller McNutt Funeral Home Conway, Arkansas, 22 November 2016, http://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=43313&locid=6#
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  Martha Aretha Tucker Jenkins
  Birth Nov 13, 1932 Arkansas
  Death Nov 17, 2016 Pulaski County, Arkansas
  Clement Franklin McPherson (1905 - 1967)
  Spouse Orville Lee Jenkins (1912 - 1987)
  
  She went by Aretha. She was born to Jessie and Alma Tucker on November 13, 1932, in Faulkner County, Arkansas.
  
  Aretha died at St Vincent's Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, 17 November 2016, from complications that developed after open heart surgery about a month before. She suffered from COPD, and high blood pressure.
  
  She married Clement (Climmie) Franklin McPherson in 1952. He passed away in 1967. In May 1969 she married Orville Lee Jenkins, who passed away in 1987.
  
  Aretha was always loving and accepting, and loved people no matter what. Even at cost to herself, she would help others. She let people know what she thought was right and wrong, but she always had an open home and an open heart for everyone, in her family or not.
  
  Funeral Service 22 November 2016 at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home, Conway, Arkansas, with interment following at Cypress Valley Cemetery Vilonia, Arkansas. She shares a joint grave and marker with her husband Orville L Jenkins.
  
  Burial Cypress Valley Cemetery, Faulkner County, Arkansas
  Maintained by Orville Jenkins, Created by Doyce Brimmage Aug 15, 2012
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #95377957, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=95377957
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Sources

• 1. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
• 2. McPherson Family Interviews by Orville Boyd Jenkins, July 2003
• 3. 1940 Federal Census, Faulkner County, Arkansas
  • 30 April, Cypress, District 23-16, page 12A, Hse #211, Owns $300
• 4. Family Trails
• 5. Obituary of Martha Aretha Tucker Jenkins 2016
• 6. Facebook Messaging
• 7. Ancestry Trees
  • Richard Theilig, http://awtc.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bookboy&id=I06000
• 8. Orville Boyd Jenkins, Personal Knowledge
• 9. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 10. Social Security Death Index