Celebrating the Life & Legacy of Doris Jenkins

Sunrise: August 11, 1939 - Sunset: March 27, 2025

Doris Jenkins, peacefully transitioned on March 27, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA. Born on August 11, 1939, in Columbia, SC, Doris moved to Philadelphia at a young age, where she was educated in the Philadelphia school system and built a life rooted in love, strength, and family.

Doris was a woman you couldn't heip but respect—bold, outspoken, and full of fire, yet deeply devoted to the people she loved. She was the matriarch, the one who kept it real, and the one you could always count on for a good meal, a hard truth, or a warm embrace when you needed it most. She took pride in cooking for her family, dressing to impress, playing cards, hitting the casino, playing bingo, and listening to her favorite oldies. She was baptized at Berean Baptist Church, grounding her life in faith and resilience.

She worked as a short-order cook, bringing people together through food, but her greatest role was being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and friend. Family was everything to Doris, and she poured love into each generation that followed her.

Doris was preceded in death by her children Cynthia and Marvin, daughter-in-law Denise, siblings Alexander, Irvin, Herbert, Mary Ann, Stanley, Betty Jean, and Margaret and 1 grandchild Tevin.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and strength, cherished by her sister Natalie Brown (PeeWee). Doris is deeply missed by her living children: Alphonso (Junie), Priscilla, Kevin, and Calvin (Bird). She is also survived by her loving daughter-in-laws, Natanya and Katrina, her son-in-law Phillip, 23 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who will forever cherish her memory.

Doris Jenkins was a woman who loved hard, spoke her truth, and lived life on her terms. Though she may no longer be with us in the physical, her presence will forever be felt in the love, lessons, and memories she leaves behind.