Donis Jenkins

 Donis Jenkins, a well known Covington resident , passed away on July 4, 2024, after a life of serving in many different capacities in many different civic clubs and organizations. She was born in New Orleans in 1923 and died at 101 years of age.

In 1972, she took part in the "Discover St. Tammany Tour" held by the St. Tammany Parish Fair Association, along with Ralph Privette, Mayor Ernest Cooper and Rick Webb of WARB. (Photo by Ron Barthet)

In 1973, she was recognized as one of the original group who started the St. Tammany Art Association.

Donis Jenkins

Click on the images to make them larger. 

She coordinated many of the Miss St. Tammany Pageants

For 30 years she worked as an occupational therapist at Southeast Louisiana Hospital in Mandeville, retiring in 1982.  After retiring, she enjoyed serving as a volunteer at the St. Tammany Parish Hospital for 17 years.

She was one of eight children born to Mamie Willie and Ellis Jourdan. When she was five years old, the family moved to Folsom where she attended school, later going to Lyon High School in Covington. After graduation, she went to work for Barton Hebert, and she married Lee Roy Jenkins in 1942. They had two children, Lee Roy Jr. and Raymond. 

Jenkins was a member of First Baptist Church in Covington, where she was on the building committee. 

Donis was honored for her arts and crafts.

Registering for Jury Duty

Arts and Crafts Division Chairman

St. Tammany Parish Fair

Parish fair activities were a big part of her life. For many years, she assisted in the office during the run of the fair in Covington. 

St. Tammany pageants chairman

In the above photo, taken in 2016, Donis congratulates artist Suzanne King for her St. Tammany Parish Fair Poster. 

Member of the church choir at First Baptist Church

A participant in many community service groups, she was a  member of the Covington Garden Club, past vice president of the St. Tammany Parish Fair Association, and oversaw the fair's arts and crafts division. She is best known as director of Miss St. Tammany and Jr. Miss St. Tammany beauty pageants, a post she held for 12 years. She also served as chaperone for Miss St. Tammany in the state pageant.

In 1984, she was part of the group presenting Rick Webb of WARB with a fair poster, congratulating him for his many years of service to the fair. The fair that year was dedicated to Webb. Donis is third from left in the above photograph. 

She was perhaps best known for her work with the Covington Business and Professional Women chapter which elected her president in 1969 as well as giving her the "Woman of the Year" honor. She was treasurer of Alpha House Day Care Center and also treasurer of the West St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce Auxiliary. 

 According to her obituary found on the Fielding Funeral Home website, she enjoyed serving in various offices in multiple associations such as the Alpha House Day Center, West St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce Auxiliary, and the St. Tammany Art Association. 

Her hobbies include sewing, making quilts and beautiful silk magnolias. She was passionate about gardening, flower arranging, and crafting. Her fruits and vegetables were always canned and distributed to friends and family.

In 2011-2012, she chaired the Cleanest City Contest and served as the Executive Board Chairman. She worked diligently for the Covington Cemetery Fence project and the organization was successful at completing the needed fencing. 

She has held every office and board position and was chairman of 30 committees in the Covington Garden Club.