John Thomas Jenkins (JJ), 91, of Fort Mill, SC, passed away on October 28, 2026.

His life was marked by his love for family and friends. John had a zest for life and never met a stranger. His warmth, humor, and genuine interest in others made everyone feel welcome and loved.

John was born July 23, 1935, in Plymouth, PA, to the late William and Elsie Jenkins. He moved to Gloucester, NJ, as a child and grew up with his sister, Beverly, and brother, Don.

He attended Juniata College and graduated with a degree in chemistry in 1958. After graduation, John was drafted and served in the Army during the Berlin Crisis from 1958 to 1961.

After his service, John was hired as a chemistry teacher at New Jersey's Delsea High School. At Delsea, John met the love of his life, Barbara Briggs. In 1963, John and Barbara were married and moved to Sterling Arms Apartments in Stratford, NJ.

In 1965, John was hired by the Campbell Soup Company in Camden, NJ, where he would work for the next 30 years. John and Barbara purchased their first home at 108 Winding Way Road in Stratford in 1965, where they would spend the next 18 years raising their three children, Eric, Heather, and Brian.

John was heavily involved in the Stratford community, particularly Father & Son Baseball, where he served as president in the late 1970s. John and Barbara chased their children around the baseball, softball, and soccer fields for many years.

In 1983, John moved his family to Laurinburg, NC, when he accepted an opportunity to manage the Campbell Soup plant in Maxton, NC. John retired from Campbell Soup in 1996.

After retiring, John continued giving back to his community. He spent time working with young men, tutoring and encouraging them along the way. His commitment to serving others was recognized in 1999 when he received the NC Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Services. This recognition reflected the generosity, dedication, and lasting impact he had on his community.