Pamela Jenkins

Pamela Joan (Burnam) Jenkins passed away on February 7, 2023 at Alta Vista Health and Rehab in Mesa, Arizona. Pam was born in Hickory, North Carolina, to Roy P. and Berneta (Leaf) Burnam on July 5, 1957 at Richard Baker Hospital. She attended Christ Lutheran Elementary School and St. Stephens Jr High School. A graduate of Hickory High School, her activities included playing the cello and singing in the choir. She also took several courses at Catawba Valley Technical College. Additionally, she played cello in the Hickory Youth Symphony, the Hickory Symphony (Western Piedmont Symphony) and the Salisbury Symphony. As the daughter of a music teacher, in her teens, she assisted with teaching her mother’s cello students. Pam always loved music, and she had a collection of CDs and tapes that she had collected over the years. In 1974, Pamela and Billie Jenkins were united in marriage, and to them were born Derek Germaine and André Todd. In the 1980’s, Pam and her sons moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was employed as a secretary at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In 2019, she moved to Mesa, Arizona to join her sister who was moving there for work. Pam had many challenges in her life, and despite tremendous hardships, she always had a wonderful outlook on life and cherished her family and friends. She was extremely kind and generous to anyone who knew her. At two points in her life, she experienced homelessness, and this had a lasting effect on her compassion and her giving spirit. She is remembered for her kindness, love, and giving to others. Even as her illness progressed, she was always offering others anything that could make their lives better from a piece of pizza to even the shirt she was wearing. She will be missed by so many. Preceding her in death were her parents and ex-husband. She is survived by sister Sonja Lynne (Tom) Tuson, sons Derek Jenkins and André (Jamie) Jenkins, granddaughter Joëlle Jenkins, nephew Dorian Brown, aunt Ruth Ann Leaf (George) Krem, uncle Alan (Karen) Leaf, and many cousins. She will also be greatly missed by her very good friends Roger Webb and Taya Abrahamian. Per Pam’s wishes, we will be celebrating her life and love at a gathering in the future. Donations in her memory may be made to Horizon House in Philadelphia. Horizon House helped Pam in many ways when she lived in Philadelphia. If you wish to donate, please reference “In Memory of Pamela Jenkins” in the field marked Comments. https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/HorizonHouse/OnlineDonation.html