Rev. Vernon "Wesley" Jenkins

Rev. Vernon “Wesley” Jenkins was born on January 20, 1926 in Midland, Maryland and moved to Akron, Ohio as a child. He went home to be with His Lord and Savior on December 7, 2018. He loved his Lord and Savior with all of his heart and shared the gospel with everyone he met wherever he was going.  

He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Marjorie Evelyn Jenkins; two children, Rebecca (Gary) Newport of Memphis, TN and David (Karen) Jenkins of Mogadore, Ohio; three grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Stephen Newport and Jonathan Newport of Memphis, Tennessee and Rachel (Bradley) Brown of Painesville, Ohio; and one great-grandchild, Caleb Brown of Painesville, Ohio. He is also survived by his brother, Richard Jenkins; and sister, Phyllis Heathman of Akron, Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Susie Jenkins; brothers, Joe, Tom, Ray, Wayne, John Jenkins; and sister, Evelyn Caler.

He graduated from the University of Akron and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois and Ashland Theological Seminary. He was an American Baptist pastor, who pastored First Baptist Church in Racine, Ohio, First Baptist Church in Radnor, Ohio, Firestone Park Baptist in Akron, Ohio, and Crab Orchard Baptist Church in Crab Orchard, West Virginia. He was also interim pastor for churches in Colorado, Nebraska and West Virginia as well as chaplain at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Beckley, West Virginia.

The family will greet friends on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Bacher Funeral Home, 3326 Manchester Rd., Akron, OH 44319. A funeral service will be held at NOON with Rev. Mark Black officiating. Interment to be held at Lakewood Cemetery.

If desired, donations may be made to

Haven of Rest Ministries,

175 E. Market St., Akron, OH 44308,

in memory of Wesley.