Pamela Joan Ames Jenkins
Pamela Joan Ames Jenkins, 95, passed away on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Life Care Center of East Ridge, Tennessee. Pam was the guiding force and much beloved matriarch of the Jenkins family of East Ridge, where she and her husband Rayvaughn raised five sons.
Pam was a dedicated teacher and educator. She was part of an unbroken five-generation chain of educators that started with her grandparents, continued with her mother, her son, a granddaughter and grandson. After the untimely passing of her loving husband Ray in 1975, Pam continued to raise her boys alone. She worked tirelessly to ensure that her sons received a good education and understood the value of hard work and careers. All five of them graduated from East Ridge High School and then college, having careers in professional and technical fields. Pam said her greatest accomplishment was to see her boys (and her students at Lakeview High School) educated, upstanding, independent, and prepared to experience all life has to offer.
Pam was born on Dec. 26, 1929, in Mattoon, Coles County, Illinois, to Howard Kenneth Ames and Ethel Vere (Leamon) Ames. Pam later lived in Riverdale, Cook County, Illinois and grew up in the Chicago area. She was baptized at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Casey, Illinois on April 25, 1943. As an adult she joined the Catholic Church via RCIA in 2006 in Soddy Daisy Tennessee.
She was vice president of the Class of 1947 Altamont Community High School in Altamont, Illinois. Pam was awarded the Master of Education from the University of Illinois on August 15, 1955. Pam taught at White Heath Elementary School in Monticello Illinois. Later she taught history at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in Georgia and served as a guidance counsellor.
Pam married Rayvaughn Ross Jenkins on April 30, 1953, in Altamont. They eventually settled in East Ridge where Pam was a Cub Scout den mother and member of a bowling league. She was an avid East Ridge wrestling team supporter of her sons. She was a Tennessee Lady Vols basketball fan and a Sunday School teacher at Jones Memorial Methodist Church in East Ridge.
Pam lived with her son, Daniel Ross Jenkins, his wife Debbie and sons Steven and Ray in Soddy Daisy for the last 15 years.
She is survived by and greatly missed by a very large and loving family including five sons: Steven Jenkins (Cindy) of Gunnison County, Tom Jenkins (Kim) of Ringgold, David Jenkins of Celina, Tn., Ross Jenkins (Debbie) of Soddy Daisy, Andy Jenkins (Wendy) of San Diego; 11 grandchildren: Ben, Anna-Marie, Matt, Adam, Jenny, Ray, Steven, Brennen, Alex, Logan and Chloe; 17 great-grandchildren: Reagan, Kenzie, Keely, Sully, Ily-Jo, Sawyer, Kole, Kellen, Nora, Atticus, Collins, Dylan, James, Lucy, Zoe, Lilly and Addison. She is survived by a brother William (Bill) Ames of Fayetteville, AK.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Charles Ames.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 10768 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379. A graveside service follows (approximately 1:30 pm ) at Lakewood Memory Gardens South, 325 Greens Lake Road, Rossville, Ga. 30741. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee who help foster human dignity through shelter, counseling, education and reverence for life (at this website https://ccetn.org/donate/) or a charity of your choice.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com.
Arrangements are by Williamson and Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy, TN 37379.