Giving Back
Dr. Jeffrey Jenkins is a familiar face at the Marcus JCC, but people often are surprised to learn that the 78-year-old wakes up at 2:30 am each day and commutes 115 miles roundtrip for his role on the Support Services team. If one asks why, he expresses, “when much is given, much is expected; I’ve been given a lot, and I want to give back. I don’t view it as a job. I love it. It’s honest work taking care of my family – the Jewish community.”
Born into the 1950s’ segregated South, Jeffrey grew up with his six siblings and illiterate parents. They embodied love and determination, even as they faced poverty and discrimination. Jeffrey recalls a long line of positive Jewish role models who showed him kindness and provided opportunity throughout his life: his neighbors who taught him to read at age 4; the gift of a lawnmower as he was cutting grass by hand with just clippers at age 9, which also enabled Jeffrey to financially assist his family; a doctor who saved his mother’s life from cancer when there were no black surgeons available; the lawyer who defended his civil rights when he and others were prohibited from entering local establishments; and a banker who helped him finance a new home. In Jeffrey’s words, “I learned from Jewish people throughout my life. They expanded my circle of confidence. We have the same value system, believing in education, family, and religion.”
With these pivotal experiences – and so many more – Jeffrey went on to be the first graduate of Savannah State College to earn a Ph.D. and he remained at the school as a beloved professor of American History and Economics. Following his first retirement at age 52, he served as an administrator for both the Savannah library system and for a local nursing home. Jeffrey also worked for the Jewish Educational Alliance for 10 years before moving to Atlanta.
He and his wife Davida now live in McDonough, but Jeffrey has no hesitation about an early wake-up call or lengthy commute to Dunwoody to work at the Marcus JCC. “I’m right where I want to be,” he declares, “this is my second home.” His accolades exemplify the respect and admiration the community feels for Jeffrey, as he has been the recipient of numerous character-driven awards, such as an annual Staff Customer Service Award, JCC Maccabi Games® Midot Medal, and recently, the first-ever, peer-selected Mensch of the Month.
Jeffrey reflects that for all he gives of himself, the Marcus JCC returns tenfold, bestowing upon him meaningful friendships and morning conversations; endless joy through his exchanges with preschool babies (“My heart is with those children – they laugh, smile, and wave at me!”); and a post-retirement job he says he doesn’t need, but rather, wants. With his time, talents, perpetual smile, financial contributions, and everlasting gratitude, Jeffrey simply desires “to give back to the Jewish community that helped me so much along the way.”
I want to give back to the Jewish community that helped me so much along the way.