Doris Virginia Jenkins

On September 24, 2024, Doris Ware Jenkins peacefully transitioned from her earthly home to enter into eternal life at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital after a short illness. She was born in Madison Heights, VA on April 30, 1933 to Andrew Ware and Carrie Washington Ware Miller as the youngest of their four children and their only daughter.

Doris accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was baptized in the cool waters of the James River at an early age. She was a life-time member of Lovingston Baptist Church, Madison Heights, VA.

She graduated from Madison Heights Negro School and went on to graduate from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland where she majored in sociology. While at Morgan State University, she was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Doris returned to Virginia where she began her career as a teacher, teaching both English and Government at Central High School and then at Amherst County High School. As an educator, Doris deeply understood the value of academic achievement and went on to obtain a Master's degree in Education from Lynchburg College (now University of Lynchburg) while she continued to teach. She ended her career serving as a guidance counselor at Monelison Middle School, where she was beloved by her students. She retired from the Amherst County School System in 1991 after almost thirty years of service.

Doris was a dedicated teacher with a strong work ethic, often working long hours to ensure that she was well-prepared and to communicate with the parents of her students when necessary. As a parent herself, Doris was a loving mother who led by example, consistently demonstrating the importance of being not only driven and hardworking, but also respectful and kind. She instilled these values in both her daughter and her students alike and encouraged them to always strive for excellence.

Doris was an avid tennis fan and enjoying watching Roger Federer, Serena and Venus Williams, and Coco Gault. She enjoyed watching Duke University basketball games and pro basketball games, especially when LeBron James was playing. She watched the news every day, looking at CNN, FOX, and MSNBC as well as the local stations and was very interested in understanding the viewpoints of political opponents.

In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Jim Ware and Ella Ware Harvey; her maternal grandparents, Charlie and Rosa Washington; her brothers, James Edward Ware (Coretta), Charlie Leroy Ware, and William Roger Ware (Joyce); and her aunt/sister, Shirley Parrish (Duval). She was also preceded in death by her nephews, Charlie Leroy Ware, Jr. and James ("Peewee") Ware and all of her aunts and uncles, as well as many cousins.

Doris is survived by her daughter, Deborah King; her devoted son-in-law, Dwight King; and her granddaughter, Valencia King. She is also survived by nephews, James Henry Ware, Sr., Frank Jerome Ware (Linda), Gary Ware, Sr. (Frances), William Ware, Jr., Dennis Ware, and Darryle Ware (Faith); and nieces: Linda Ware, Sheila Haskins, Janine Ware, Sharon Ware, Shevella Crawford, Vanessa Anderson, Karen Ware, Cynthia Wood; and God given niece, Deborah Ware and her children, James Jamale and Jasmine Ware. She is also survived by many grandnephews; grandnieces; great-nephews; and great-nieces. In addition, she is survived by many cousins, including devoted cousins, Lil Winfree, Jean Woodman, Cleveland Rice, Edith Wynn, Evelyn Turner, Carolyn Cunningham, Marlon Parrish (Jean), Marcine Parrish, Monica Parrish, Stacy (Mike) Gamble, Kyle (Anna) Hargrove, and Cynthia Alston. In addition to the loving care and assistance provided by Deborah Ware for over two decades, Doris was blessed to have had other faithful caregivers, Marie Coles and her daughter, Tailor, for six years and Brenda Myles for the last six months of her life. For over forty years, Ernest Laury (late Blanche) was always available to assist her with home issues.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory be made to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The family will receive friends on Friday, October 18, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at Tharp Funeral Home, 220 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg, VA.

The celebration service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Tharp Funeral Home, 220 Breezewood Drive, Lynchburg, VA, with Rev. Ernest L. Penn, Jr. as the eulogist. Interment will be in Forest Hill Burial Park, 2310 Lakeside Drive (Rt. 221), Lynchburg, VA.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.