Thelma T. Jenkins, affectionately known as "Nana" and "Tee", went home peacefully at the age of 95 to be with the Lord, on September 22, 2025. Born on March 6, 1930, in Johnston, South Carolina, to the late Otis and Ellen Miles, Thelma lived a life filled with faith, laughter, and love.
Raised in Washington, D.C., and later Brooklyn, New York where she graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School. In Brooklyn, Thelma joined St. Paul Baptist Church where she and her two younger sisters formed a singing group called the Miles Trio, a gospel singing group whose harmonies reflected their faith and joy. She became a devout Christian Scientist, eager to share God's goodness with others throughout her life, and found joy in listening to various Christian programs and gospel music on radio and television. Thelma loved the Lord and loved visiting various churches to hear the word and praise Him.
In 1949, Thelma married the love of her life, Thaddeus E. Jenkins Sr., beginning a marriage that lasted 73 years. Together, they raised their two children with love, discipline, and a devotion to God, creating a family rooted in faith and unity.
The Jenkins family moved to Montclair, NJ in 1967 where Thelma got a job with the Montclair Board of Education. She started as a bus aide and secretary for special education students, then became a guidance counselor secretary at Montclair High School. She loved her job and the students and staff loved her. Thelma was thorough, honest, and very efficient, with an infectious positive spirit.
A servant of God, Thelma was a Nana to everyone—not just to her children and grandchildren, but to extended family and friends who loved her and found comfort in her presence. Her kitchen table was a gathering place, where family traveled from near and far to share meals, memories, and laughter. Nana had a sharp wit and could deliver off-the-cuff jokes that had everyone laughing. Her humor, paired with her kindness, brought light to every situation.
She loved to travel, taking annual family trips across the U.S. and abroad, creating treasured memories with family. Just like her late husband, Thelma loved gatherings with relatives and friends. She was an excellent cook. Her signature dishes included: fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and okra corn and tomatoes. 5 foot 3, with the heart of a giant, she was gracious, forgiving and had a spirit that could fill any room.
After retiring from Montclair High School in 2011, Thelma continued to live in faith surrounded by family. In 2025 she began experiencing a series of heart and lung complications. On September 22, she reunited in Heaven with her beloved husband, Thaddeus, whom she dearly missed.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter Teresa Paulette (Alex), her son Thaddeus Jr. (Kim); grandchildren Makaiyah (Dorrian Moore Sr.), Kyle, and Nelson (Christina); and bonus grand-children Pierre and Brittany; great-grandchildren Kahleeb, Dorian Jr., and Micah; and bonus great grand children Aiden, Jason, and SirDon; sisters Dorothy Smith and Sadie Walker; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her siblings Emma Bell Washington and Melvin Miles, and her beloved husband, Thaddeus Sr.
In her 95 remarkable years, Thelma was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, a faithful servant of God, and a friend to all. Her light will continue to shine brightly through the countless lives she touched.