Obituary of Bryant Keith Jenkins

Bryant Keith Jenkins was born on November 15, 1958, the fourth child to Delores Jenkins and the late Colonel Irvin Jenkins. After a lengthy illness Bryant answered the Lord's call on December 1, 2020 while under the care of Seasons Hospice. He transitioned peacefully at home with his family by his side. As a member of a military family, Bryant was born at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington. He and his family traveled and lived in various army bases throughout the United States and Germany. The family's roots are in Baltimore as both parents were born, raised, educated, and graduated from Frederick Douglas High School and Morgan State University. These deep local influences attracted Bryant back to Baltimore to attend Morgan State University where he earned a degree in Accounting in 1980. Soon after his graduation he obtained his CPA license and began his career with Ernst and Young. Bryant devoted the first 10 years of his career to the accounting profession, however, his outgoing personality led him to a successful career in sales and marketing with Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals. Bryant's desire to run his own company led him to the State Farm Insurance Agency where he operated as an independent agency that was committed to helping people understand, obtain, and utilize insurance to protect and grow their personal assets and net worth. Bryant was a dedicated State Farm Agent and operated his agency in Owings Mills until his death. On May 28, 1988 Bryant married Baltimore native Luwanda Walker with whom he built a full and meaningful life together for 32 years. From their union were born two children, now young adults with promising futures due to devoted parenting and the "village influence" of many close family members and friends. Their daughter Morgan Jenkins lives and works for the NBA in New York City, and their son Miles lives in Tacoma, MD, with his new bride Bria Andrews, and has started his career with Microsoft. Bryant was actively involved in several civic, professional, and social organizations. He was on the board of the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce, the Whitehurst Homeowners Association, the Baltimore Guardsmen, and was a long-term member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (8PI1979-Morgan State University). Bryant's pastimes and passions over the years included racquetball, cycling, golf, and tennis. For a period of time Bryant enjoyed playing tennis with a group of guys who call themselves the Arthur Ashe Street Boys. For almost 40 years Bryant suffered from pulmonary sarcoidosis, a mysterious disease that remained dormant until his condition became active in his late 50's and aggressively compromised his ability to breathe without the use of supplemental oxygen. Despite this condition, Bryant was determined not to let the disease define or confine him. He volunteered with the Life & Breath Foundation, a Maryland based foundation devoted to research, treatment, and support of people living with sarcoidosis. Bryant served as a spokesperson for the organization's outreach and awareness efforts and demonstrated how to live a full life with this disease. A special memorial fund has been established at the Life & Breath Foundation in Bryant's honor. Bryant's memory and legacy will be treasured and preserved by his devoted wife Luwanda Jenkins, their children Morgan Jenkins and Miles Jenkins (wife Bria Andrews Jenkins), his mother Delores Jenkins, mother-in-law Delores Walker, siblings: Irvin Jenkins Jr (Beverly), Michael Jenkins (Andrea), Gary Jenkins(Jean), Kimberly Moore, Kirsten Roach, a brother-in-law Albert Walker, Donald Welling, uncle and a host of nieces, nephews, close friends, fraternity brothers and Guardsmen. Bryant is preceded in death by his father retired Colonel Irvin Jenkins, Sr., Jeanne Jenkins, beloved stepmother, Jeaneane Bradford, dearly loved aunt, and Jean Jenkins, a much-loved sister-in-law. Let it be known that Bryant Jenkins' 62-years on this earth is truly an example of "A Life Well Lived."