The news of Dr. Inez Jenkins’ death in Los Angeles on November 2 warrants a word of reflection. She was Professor Emerita of Religion and Philosophy at Wiley College in Marshall. Though due to illness it has been a few years since her gentle, yet cogent and wise voice could be heard, some of us will remember her for apt, gracious words given on special occasions. For the audience at the Sam B. Hall Jr. Lectureship a number of years ago, her evocative personal recollections of the Civil Rights Movement drew us to its heart. Her long life of service to the life of the mind at historically black colleges most directly benefited African-American students, but how in our diverse community could she have failed to touch all of us, however indirectly? On the day she spoke the Hall Lecture was never better because she spoke authentically and honestly. What she said was important; but more importantly as she spoke she authenticated those things she wanted to convey to our university audience by convincing us that they were at the heart of her life.
Though a time or two she faltered, and though she had much more to say than the time allowed, her words that day were both gospel and life witness. We can be grateful that she showed the true spirit of Christ in her life of intellectual inquiry, unselfish service, and principled action. It is a good thing to be confronted with “a better way,” and so it was in encounters with the Rev. Dr. Inez Jenkins. She will be missed.
Read more from Gail Beil at marshallnewsmessenger.com for November 2, 2006.