Morgan county son Felton Jenkins memorialized in moving service | morgan county citizen online

Morgan County son Felton Jenkins memorialized in moving service | Morgan County Citizen Online

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Morgan County son Felton Jenkins memorialized in moving service Submitted by editor on Fri, 01/14/2011 - 17:14.

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By Katie Davis Walker Staff Writer Scores of mourners lined the sidewalk of the First United Methodist Church, umbrellas in hand. The sanctuary was full, the vestibules crowded with statesmen, representatives from colleges across Georgia, accomplished litigators, and a multitude of people whose lives were impacted by A. Felton Jenkins, Jr. The congregation gathered Wednesday, Jan. 5 in a public service memorializing a native son of Morgan County who never forgot his roots. Jenkins had been buried that morning in his maternal family cemetery in Rutledge. The high school football champion became a tireless advocate for education in Georgia and vice chair of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. He died New Year's Day of brain cancer.

"He was genuinely nice – a nice, decent man, respectful of others," said Chuck Toney, speechwriter at the University of Georgia Public Affairs office. "He saw the connection between education and success, both for the individual and the state."

Jenkins was dedicated in his service with the Board of Regents.

He was a judicious thinker and thorough in his research. Fellow regent, Dink NeSmith, told the Augusta Chronicle, "They send us pounds of information to read and study every month, and Felton read every word‌He always did his homework and knew the right questions. And better yet, he helped us answer the tough questions."

The fount of Rev. Edward Nelson's sermon came from Philipians, which he read from Jenkins' Bible, used to teach Sunday school at FUMC. The Bible fluttered as he held it up for the congregation to see. It was feathered on three sides with yellow post-its, notes made by the University of Georgia law school alumnus.

The beloved Sunday school teacher was also a feared litigator, a retired senior law

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Morgan County son Felton Jenkins memorialized in moving service | Morgan County Citizen Online

9/4/13 4:11 PM

partner with King and Spalding. He argued cases in several Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals and before the U.S. Supreme Court, before retiring in 1992 to farm cattle on his ancestral land. He also served on numerous boards, including Chair of the Georgia Justice Project, the American Cancer Society, the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority, and many other governmental, nonprofit and corporate boards.

Strong in mind and body, he had also climbed four of the world's major mountains, most recently reaching South Base Camp at Mt. Everest in 2009. "How he accomplished all he did was amazing," said Felton Jenkins, III, of his father. "Had the cancer not hit him like a ton of bricks, he would have contributed more to higher education."

Virginia Jenkins Payne Foreman, likened her brother to the yeoman farmer and founding father, Thomas Jefferson. After serving as president, Jefferson advocated for educational reform at the College of William and Mary and founded the University of Virginia in the early 1800s. Jenkins' sister noted that he loved the land, and the people of Georgia. She lamented he would have accomplished more in his service to others had he had more time.

"The Jenkins were all smart people – good country people. Salt of the earth, and Felton was one," said Rev. Alan Jenkins, his son. Jenkins is the son of A. Felton Jenkins and Jimmie Davis Jenkins. He is survived by his wife, Julie Green Jenkins, three children, Felton Jenkins III, and his wife Karen Jenkins; Emily Jenkins Followill, married to Tom, and their children, Sarah and Thomas; and the Rev. Alan Davis Jenkins.

Contributions can be given to the Georgia Justice Project, 438 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, Ga. 30312; the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, 434 S. Main St., Madison, Ga. 30650, and/or Madison-Morgan Conservancy, P.O. Box, 757, Madison, Ga. 30650.

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