Barbara Lee Jenkins

I was born on June, 1940 to John Burkett and Leona Emma (Rumley) Burkett in Waukee, Iowa. There were six of us; me and Pearl (Deering) were the girls and our brothers were Lewis, John Jr., William and Theodore (Teddy) Burkett. I was educated in the Des Moines Public School system. I attended East High into the 12th grade, but decide to come out of school to raise my own family. I met Odell Jenkins in 1958 and we were married in 1972, We were both just youngsters-but we made it work. Odell and I took care of each other for 53 years! Nothing is more important than family together Odell and I raised five children: Bert, Johnita, Marc, Steve and Robert. Jesus is my rock I met him at Mt. Olive when it was on the Southside. I've been a member of Mt. Olive Church all my life. I was a member of the Mission Society, The Mother;s Board and was a choir member for 50 years. I loved singing and directing the choir. I was also a founding member of the Mt. Olive food bank. When I wasn't helping at church I loved spending time with family and friends. We would get together for cookouts and big family dinners. I liked cooking for our family and they enjoyed my special baked beans and sweet potatoes. We would play cards and go to bingo. When the kids were small, there were baseball and football games to go to. I was the biggest fan and cheerleader. I also played a little softball myself. I had that surgery for the brain tumor and after things just weren't the same. I fought the changes in my body for a long time. Finally, on November 14, 2012. God said, 'Good Job Barbara. Come home with Me.' I hated to leave you all but it was time to rest. What a wonderful reunion with my son, Robert, my parents and siblings, Pearl Deering, Lewis and William Burkett. We had a lot of catching up to do. I left behind my loving husband, Odell; my children, Bert (Herky) Burkett, Johnita Slaughter, Marc Jenkins and Steve Garrett; my brothers, John Burkett, Jr. and Theodore Burkett, 16 grandchildren,and 14 great grandchildren, all my church family and so many friends. I'll miss you all, but do what you have to so we can be together again, cause there's nothing more important than family.



Cemetery Details Glendale Cemetery 4901 University

Des Moines, IA, 50310