Jeanine Whittier Jenkins, 82, passed away on April 13, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Jeanine was born in Jacksonville, Florida to the late Arthur and Sara Whittier. One of five children, Jeanine was always comfortable in the caregiving role and liked to say that she helped raise her younger siblings. As a child and teenager, she enjoyed singing in the school choir and was one of Elvis Presley's biggest fans.

After graduating high school, she met the love of her life, Jim, and they spent more than 56 years together as husband and wife before his death in 2015. Jeanine's greatest joy was being a wife, Mom, and Nana. She cherished every minute she got to spend with her family, and was sure to capture all the little moments in pictures and on video. She was very sentimental and enjoyed looking back at the old photos and talking about all the memories and lasting moments she had with her family. To Jeanine, family was everything.

Though she relocated to Georgia, her heart was always in Florida with her parents, siblings, and Jim's family. She loved nothing more than to spend time with all of her loved ones for the holidays. Even after moving away, she always made sure to return to Jacksonville for Thanksgiving, her sister's annual Christmas party, or to spend time with her extended family. She loved watching her nieces and nephews - and later her great nieces and nephews - grow up. She and Jim would stop at nothing to hop in the car and make that 7 hour drive for each and every family gathering. Jeanine and Jim put hundreds of thousands of miles on their trusty Hondas over the years, but they would not have had it any other way.

Jeanine and Jim loved to travel as a couple and with their friends on bus tours. Their travels took them all across the United States and Canada. Jeanine loved to share her photos and memories of each of these special trips, which inspired a travel bug in her friends and family.

Jeanine loved being the hostess and enjoyed entertaining friends and loved ones. Whether it was her art club ladies, her church circle, neighborhood friends, her son's friends, or the New Year's Eve crowd, Jeanine was in her element whenever she welcomed people into her home, fed them their favorite desserts, and made them feel loved.

Jeanine had a strong faith and a close relationship with the Lord. She lived by the Golden Rule and was an example of Christ's love in everything she did.

Jeanine is survived by her son and daughter-in law, Tim and Danielle, granddaughter Ryleigh, brothers Arthur (Priscilla); Charles (Melanie); Cary (Debbie), sister Wanda (Fred), beloved nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

Her family is eternally thankful for the love, care, and kindness shown to Jeanine these last few months by all of her friends, especially Linda Davidson, Teri DeBaylo, Reverend Shelia Preacher, Amy and Michelle at Wellstar Oncology, and all of the hospice angels at Wellstar Tranquility at Kennesaw Mountain.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, April 22nd from 1-2 PM at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 244 Kurtz Rd., Marietta, Georgia. Pastor Shelia Preacher will lead us in a celebration of Jeanine's life immediately following at 2 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Jeanine's beloved church, St. Paul United Methodist Church , 244 Kurtz Rd., Marietta, GA 30066.