Arthur S. Jenkins ’49

Dr.  Arthur S. Jenkins passed away peacefully on Friday, October 21st in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he and his beloved wife Frances lived since leaving their home in Beaufort in 2011.

Dr. Jenkins was born on November 1, 1928 in Kobe, Japan to Charles Rees Jenkins and Elizabeth Simons Jenkins during their missionary services in Japan in the 1920’s. After the family’s return to the U.S., Dr. Jenkins spent his childhood years in Littleton and Fayetteville, North Carolina.

He attended Davidson College for one year before being drafted into military service as a medic during the Korean War, where he continued to pursue his growing interest in medicine. After the war he completed his undergraduate degree at Davidson College before attending and graduating from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1957.

He met his wife Frances while living in Columbia, SC where he was a medical resident at Columbia Hospital and she was a laboratory technician. The two were married in 1959 and moved to Beaufort, South Carolina in 1960, where they established a medical family practice, and raised a family of four boys as members of the First Presbyterian Church.

Other than medicine, Dr. Jenkins enjoyed many of the pleasures of the Lowcountry – pleasures including hunting, fishing, eating oysters, and growing prize-winning camellias.

Dr. Jenkins practiced Family Medicine in Beaufort for 48 years before retiring in 2008. In addition to his private practice and his years of service at Beaufort Memorial, he also provided cared for many patients at Bay View Nursing Home.

As life would have it, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which finally led to his retirement from medicine and his departure from the Lowcountry so that he and his wife could be closer to the assistance of their children in North Carolina.

His disability required that he be cared for in an assisted living community, where he was admired by the staff for his sharp mind, and adored for his brilliant smile. He frequently provided advice and counseling to his clinical care team members, and would assist some with strengthening their medical knowledge in preparation for their advanced studies.

He loved to share stories of his early years practicing medicine in Beaufort. He would lovingly brag about the more than 500 children he delivered in those early years when family practitioners had to fulfill many roles now performed by specialists.

He was also deeply honored and proud to have the Arthur S. Jenkins Medical Plaza dedicated in his name.

Dr. Jenkins was preceded in death by his wife Frances, and his brother Rees Jenkins.

He is survived by his sister Beth DeVane, and his four sons, and six grandsons: Arthur Jr. and Celia Jenkins of Sierra Vista, AZ and their two sons Sean and Cody; Charles and Sheila Jenkins of Cary, NC and their two sons Chase and Parker; Wade and Karen Jenkins of Charlotte NC and their son Matthew; John and Sandy Jenkins of Durham, NC and their son John Jr.

A memorial service for Dr. Jenkins will be held in the main sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaufort on Saturday, October 29th at 2:00 p.m., with a reception afterwards at the fellowship hall across the street.

There will not be a graveside burial ceremony, but flowers may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church for the memorial service.

Donations may also be made in his memory to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ Charleston

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