Dr. Alonzo Clark Jenkins

The Reverend Dr. A. Clark Jenkins was born on March 3, 1953, in Pickens, South Carolina to the late Reverend Dr. Edward Emmanuel Jenkins, Sr. and the late Margaret Miller Jenkins. Clark was a third-generation United Methodist Minister with a lineage dating back to his uncle Rev. Dr. Warren Jenkins, and his grandfather Rev. Dr. J.E. Clark Jenkins during the 1800's. Clark graduated from Claflin University with an undergraduate degree in Religion and Philosphy in 1974 where he was inducted into Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society. He received a Master's of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School in 1977 and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from claflin University in 2009. Clark's more than 40 years of service in ministry touched the lives of many. His early experiences at Duke triggered his passion for social justic. He was influenced by major scholars such as Dr. James Cone, Dr. C. Eric Lincoln, Dr. Deotis Roberts, Dr. herbert Edwards and Dr. Charles Robinson. He was among Ben Chavis and others who bravely came to the rescue of political prisoners such as the Wilmington 10 and Joan Little. He studied the teachings of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., bonhoeffer and Kierkegaard. Upon appointment to TN, his most passionate goal was to address poverty in Appalachia. Clark's passion for helping others spread his ministry across several states. He worked passionately with the General Board of Church and Society for many years and with National Black Methodists for Church Renewal to address issues of injustices facing people acress the world. He founded Salkehatchie Summer Service Black River Camp to repair homes for families in Sumter County. He sustained soup kitchens that fed the hungry, and provided educational programs for both the Hispanic children of the SC upstate as well as the African American males in the Midlands. He fought to raise the awareness of the less than "minimally adequate" education provided to the children of the I-95 "Corridor of Shame." He brought attention to the plight of the farmers in Williamsburg and Charleston Counties and to the poverty on Johns Island and in Appalachia. And at all times, he preached and lived by the gospel. He challenged his congregations, "...what does the Lord require of you but to do justic, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8. Clark served the following appointmens: Wesley UMC (Aiken, SC, 1972-1974); Rock Hill Charge - 2 Churches (Rock Hill, SC, 1974-1975), Asbury Temple UMC (Durham, NC, 1974-1978) York Circuit - 4 churches (York, SC, 1978-1979); Centenary UMC (Charleston, SC, 1979-1982), Johns Island Parish - 3 churches (Johns Island, SC, 1982-1989), Associate Council Director, South Caroina Conference (Columbia, SC, 1989-1991) Emmanuel UMC (Sumter, SC, 1991-1994), Mt. Zion UMC (Kingstree, SC, 1994-1996), Superintendent, Spartanburg District (Spartanburg, SC, 1996-2004), Senior Pastor at St. Andrews-by-the-Sea UMC (Hilton Head, SC, 2004-2007), Senior Pastor at First Broad Street UMC (Kingsport, TN, 2007-2010), and Superintendent, Morristown District (Morristown, TN, 2010-2011). Past affiliations and memberships include: Trustee, Wofford College (Spartanburg, SC); Board of Visitors, Claflin University (Orangeburg, SC); Rural Mission, Inc. (Johns Island, SC); Operation Push, Chairman of Charleston Chapter; Charleston County Leadership Council; Co-founder of the MLK Annual NAACP Breakfast (columbia, SC); Chairman, Charleston County YWCA MLK Jr. Community Action Committee; Chairman, Southeastern Jurisdiction Black Methodist for Church Renewal; Founder and Former President, Johns Island Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance; Claflin University International Alumni Association; Holston conference Discipleship Team; Holston Conference Outreach and Advocacy Team; Holston Homes for Children; Advocacy Board of Eastman Chemical (Kingsport, TN); The General Board of Church and Society (Washington, DC); Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated; Delegate, 15th world Methodist conference (Nairobi, Kenya). to his family, Clark was a devoted and loving son, husband, father, brother, and friend. Those left to cherish memories of him include his devoted wife of 38 years, Dr. Carolyn Pearson Jenkins, his daughter, Carmel Natasha Jenkins, His son, Jeremy Clark Jenkins, and daugter-in-law, Gina Nicole Barksdale Jenkins, all of Charlotte, NC. Additionally, he leaves his brother, Edward E. Jenkins, Jr. of Greenville, SC; his sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Thomas Shell of Atlanta, GA; three granddaughters, Miss Gabrielle Nicole Jenkins, Miss Nadia Ari Keith, and Miss Gianna Clarke Jenkins all of Charlotte, NC; an uncle, Dr. Harvey Jenkins of Fayetteville, NC; one aunt, Ella Jenkins of Jacksonville, FL; and a niece, Nicole Rowe (Carlos) of Atlanta, GA, along with several special nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Dr. Alonzo Clark Jenkins

March 3, 1953 - January 3, 2013