RICE, May 26 – Nellie C. Jenkins, 79, of Rice, died Friday, May 22, 2009 at MCV Hospital in Richmond. She was the wife of the late Calvin J. Jenkins, Sr.

Born in Buckingham County, October 12, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Henry and Martha Agnes Jamerson Catlett.

Nellie was known to many as the owner of Jenkins Blue & Gray Convenience Store in Rice where she was always in the lead of a good conversation. An enthusiastic Civil War relic hunter, she was a lovely Southern Lady who enjoyed rural areas for their natural beauty and for the friendliness of the people.

She was very active in the Order of the Eastern Star and was a Past Grand Representative of North Dakota and at-tended many Grand Chapter sessions. Locally she was a member and Past Matron of both the Robert Morris Chapter # 150 of Farmville and the Bethlehem Chapter # 15 of Crewe. She traveled all over the world with her O.E.S. sisters and brothers.

She was a faithful member of Salem United Methodist Church, Rice, and attended several Annual Methodist Conferences representing her church and the Farmville District all over the State.

In addition to husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Calvin J. Jenkins Jr.

Nellie is survived by two sons, Victor T. “Bill” Jenkins and wife, Wanda and Robert T. Jenkins and wife, Diane both of Rice; a brother, Irvin Catlett; five sisters, Cornell Martin, Delmer Trowler, Hilda Hicks, Anna Butler and Janet Hutchison all of Buckingham County; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and a dear friend and traveling companion, Frances C. Moore.

Funeral services were conducted Sunday at Salem United Methodist Church with burial in Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery both in Rice.

Puckett Funeral Home, of Farmville, was in charge of arrangements.