Joseph Jenkins Obituary

Jenkins, Joseph Samuel Born to Grant and Gillie Westbrooks Jenkins on July 18, 1929. A native Chicagoan, Joseph attended Burke Elementary School and DuSable High School. After graduating from high school, Joe enrolled in Northwestern University. He became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Theta Chapter in 1951. He was affectionately named "Joe the Baby" by his frat brothers. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1952. He served as Sergeant in the Medical Corps. Joseph joined the Chicago Police Department in 1956. He began his career in the Second District on foot patrol earning three Honorable Mentions for his swift response time. From 1961 to 1966, he was assigned to the Fifth District. From 1966 until he retired in 1991, he was assigned to the Youth Division at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School. He was preceded in death by his oldest brother, Dr. Ulysses Duke Jenkins. He leaves to mourn his death his wife, Irva Marie; his brother, Gilbert; his daughter from a previous marriage, Joanne; two stepsons, Cecil and Michael; two stepdaughters, Suzette and Margaret; sister-in-law, Donna (Clyde); nieces, Sharon (Jacob), Tatjana (Jorg Rahn), Adekumbi, and Lajuana; nephews, Chuka, Torrence and Randall and a host of great-nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, friends, colleagues and fraternity brothers. Joseph was a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He served as the President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council in 2005. He died on May 27, 2018 in his home with loved ones in attendance.