When those who knew her speak of Regina “Jean” Jenkins, their voice invariably begins to quiver from the raw emotion the story this remarkable woman’s life evokes.
David Jenkins, her son, spoke to us at length about Jean, her incredible life, and his family endowment fund that her life inspired, a fund that is honoring her dedication and hard work by providing single-parent households in the Archdiocese of Baltimore financial assistance to attend an archdiocesan Catholic school.
Jean Jenkins was no stranger to adversity. Growing up in a working-class family that fell on tough times, she shouldered the responsibility of supporting her family when her parents became ill. Her brother later went to live with relatives in Texas, leaving Jean to navigate life’s challenges on her own. “Despite her brilliance,” David said, “circumstances forced her to prioritize survival over personal aspirations.”
Her resilience deepened as she became a single mother in the late 1970s. “She worked tirelessly to ensure we had the opportunities she lacked,” David said, “From taking odd jobs to pursuing her college degree in her 40s at Morgan State University—where she often brought me to class—Jean epitomized determination.”
A devout believer in Catholic education, Jean worked three jobs to send David to Catholic schools, knowing they would instill in him a foundation of faith, discipline, and service. Her sacrifices were not made in vain. “I excelled,” David said, “and I developed a strong work ethic, inspired by my mother’s example.” He worked after school to help with family finances and became deeply connected to his Catholic community.
When Jean passed away last June, David and his wife, Michelle, knew they had to honor her legacy. “We wanted to establish an endowed fund with the Catholic Community Foundation,” David says, “to help children of single-parent homes like mine.”
With a fervent desire to extend his mother’s spirit of selflessness and perseverance to others, David and Michelle worked with the Foundation to establish The Regina Cecilia Jenkins Memorial Endowment Fund. They found the process seamless and easy. “Terry [Brashears, Assistant Director for the Foundation] walked us through everything. The Foundation established the fund within two weeks of our alerting them to our decision.”
The Regina Cecilia Jenkins Memorial Endowment Fund will mean the world of difference to single-parent households in our community.
“While all Catholic school families make great sacrifices,” Dr. Donna Hargens, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese, said, “single parents can face unique challenges. Endowment funds like this provide them and their children access to a 21st century education that can break barriers. Endowments like The Regina Cecilia Jenkins Memorial Endowment Fund offer not only financial support, but also hope—helping to build futures grounded in faith, perseverance, and the promise of opportunity.”
The Regina Cecilia Jenkins Memorial Endowment Fund stands as a tribute to Jean Jenkins’s unwavering faith, grit, and love, encouraging a cycle of giving.
“Mom changed the trajectory of our family tree,” David reflected, a message he was able to share with Jean prior to her passing, “and we felt an urge to help uplift other families similarly in her honor.”
