Rev. Earlene C. Cole Jenkins was born on August 19, 1927 in Ripley Mississippi to the union of Robert Cole Sr. and Natlie Cole. Rev. Earlene accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior early in life. Rev. Earlene was a member of the John Divine Missionary Baptist Church. She helped and served as a faithful member until her health began to fail her.

Rev. Earlene was preceded in death by her husband of many years Tommie Lee Jenkins; father, Robert Cole and her mother, Natlie Stevenson; brother, Robert Cole Jr., who we used to call "Uncle Bubba"; stepfather, Milton Stevenson; daughters, Willie Mae Little and Deborah Strickland and grandson, Cedric Jenkins.

Rev. Earlene lived in many places in her life. She finished her early education in Ripley, Mississippi and she moved to Chicago and went to the School of Nursing at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She also moved to Beloit, Wisconsin, where she worked in nursing homes. Earlene met many people in her life and she met no stranger. They fell in love with her for she spread love to whomever she met in this life.

Rev. Earlene married Tommie Lee Jenkins and moved to East Saint Louis, where she joined the Eastern Star Daughter of Isis and she joined Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church where she became a Minister and Sunday School teacher. She worked in the church diligently and she enjoyed her church family. She loved to travel, shop, and being with family, friends and ministering to others about the love of God. She worked at the Centreville Hospital Gift Shoppe and in home health sitting with others. Mom taught "We are to serve, not to be served, for Jesus came to serve."

Rev. Earlene departed this life on May 8, 2022. Her legacy lives on through her daughters ~ Cynthia Harvey Jenkins, Tonetta Jenkins Merriweather and Letitia Jenkins; sons ~ Larry Jenkins and Leterence (Kelley) Jenkins; niece ~ Deitra (Richard) McCoy; one sister-in-law ~ Betty Cole; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; god-daughter ~ Treona  Wren; god-sons, Robert C. Jones IV and Rolando Jenkins; a host ofnieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends; special nephew ~ William (Mary) Cole.