Ruth Loretta Jenkins

Mrs. Ruth Loretta Jenkins peacefully departed this earthly life on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Prisma Richland Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. She was born in Wedgefield, South Carolina, and was the eldest of eight children born to the late John Marion Olden and Larlia Champion Olden. Ruth began her Christian journey at Wayman Chapel AME Church in Sumter, South Carolina. After relocating to New York, she united with Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn, where her faith continued to grow. She was a proud graduate of Ebenezer High School, Class of 1958. During her high school years, she excelled as a basketball star and met the love of her life, Isiah Jenkins, Sr. The two were united in marriage in 1959 in Sumter, South Carolina. In 1962, Ruth and her husband moved to the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York. She began her professional career as a third-grade Teacher’s Aide at P.S. 184. She later joined the Verizon Telephone Company, where she dedicated more than 30 years of faithful service and retired as a supervisor in 1998. During her 50 years of residence in New York, Ruth lived life fully. She was a devoted football mom, an enthusiastic bingo player, enjoyed bowling, shopping, watching tennis, and was an avid sports fan, especially of the New York Knicks. She loved traveling and cruising to her favorite Caribbean islands. Above all, Ruth cherished time spent with her family. She found her greatest joy in her sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and treasured Sunday family dinners, holidays, birthdays, and special celebrations. In 2005, she returned to Columbia, South Carolina, where she joined the Women of Wisdom (WOW) and the Golden Girls of Sumter. She also reconnected with Wayman Chapel AME Church, where she enjoyed fellowship and actively participated in the Crafting Bees. She will be remembered most for her beautiful, caring, and loving kindness. In addition to her parents and beloved husband, Ruth was preceded in death by her siblings, Frank Olden and Janice Lynette Olden. She leaves to cherish her precious memories her loving sons, Vernon (Yolande) Olden of Brooklyn, New York, and Isiah Jenkins, Jr. of Columbia, South Carolina; four grandchildren, Camillo, Kimon, Roland, and Karesha; nine great-grandchildren; two brothers, John Olden of Columbia, South Carolina, and Thomas Olden of Wedgefield, South Carolina; three sisters, Emma O. Neal, Carrie Jenkins, and Eleanor Olden, all of Columbia, South Carolina; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and dear friends.

Ruth Loretta Jenkins

July 7, 1940 - February 5, 2026