Reatha Mae Govan Jenkins

Reatha Mae Govan Jenkins, daughter of the late George and Ethnell Govan was born on August 10, 1943, in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Reatha moved to New York at an early age and graduated from Central Commercial High School.  She met and married George Allen Jenkins and had their only child, Sharon.

Later in life she returned to school and received her bachelor’s degree from the College of New Rochelle. Reatha worked for the New York City Department of Social Service, New York City Human Resource Administration, The Bureau of Security Services, (BOSS) as a Shelter Security Manager and retired from the New York City Department of Homeless Services as the Superintendent of Shelters.

After retirement she joined Centempo Travels and Tours and combined her love of family, traveling, and music with cruises to the Caribbean and Europe, with her favorite Jazz, R&B and Caribbean entertainers. Although it took some years of convincing Reatha, she finally made her way to Columbus, Ohio to be chauffeured, pampered, loved on by her three heartbeats (Aaliyah, AJ, and Adam) and the Slappy and Gatewood families.

Reatha believed God’s grace and mercy carried her through all of life’s challenges and truly believed she had a life well lived.

She is preceded in death by parents, George and Ethnell Govan; stepfather, David Halley; sisters; Georgia Mae Govan Brockett and Mossie Ann Govan Bentley; former husband, George Allen Jenkins; and niece Beatrice Cassandra Brockett.

Reatha leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Sharon (Anthony) Slappy; nieces; Deborah Brockett (John) Brown, Pamela Brockett: nephews, Larry Brockett, and Charles Arius Bentley (Iyesha Chestnut): grandnephews Cory (Sierra)Brockett and Romell (Alicia) Brocket, brother-in-law Stanley Jenkins: sister-in-law Ingrid William-Scott; grandchildren, Aaliyah, Nicole Slappy, Anthony Jamal Slappy and Adam Christopher Slappy; Lifelong friends Jeanne Banks, Angela Smith, and Carl (Julie) Bartlett, family-in-love Peggy Ann Gatewood, Joseph (Rachel) Slappy and a host of other family and friends.

Visitation 1:00 PM and Private Memorial Service 2:00 PM Saturday, February 5, 2022 at MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave. (one block east of Noe Bixby, turn North on Lonsdale Rd).