Georgia M. (Jenkins) Rowlett

Georgia Jenkins Rowlett, 93, of Morristown, TN, passed away, peacefully, on Tuesday, November 1, 2022.  

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Don H. Rowlett; her parents, Tom and Flora Smith Jenkins; brothers, Ed (Elizabeth), Willard (Shirley), Truman (Maxie) Walter (Lucille), Smith (Barbara), Herb, Hubert, and William Jenkins; sisters, Pauline (Harry) Montgomery, Ruth (Jim) Jessie, Hester and Goldie Jenkins; 3 nieces, 5 nephews, 1 great nephew, and son-in law, Joel W. Booth. 

She is survived by her only child, Connie Rowlett Booth, of Morristown; two granddaughters, Jennifer, of Glen Allen, VA, and Kimberly, of Henrico, VA; one grandson, Landon, of Henrico, VA; one great granddaughter, Joelyn, and three great grandsons, Derek, Tucker, and Carson; 9 nieces, 3 nephews, 12 great nieces and nephews, and several great-great nieces and nephews. 

Georgia was born on June 5, 1929, in her home in Ewing, VA.  She grew up on a farm with 9 brothers and sisters.  Georgia was the youngest.  She graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1946 at Thomas Walker High School.  Her first date with Don was on graduation day.  He had just returned from Okinawa where he served in the Navy during WWII.  Don and Georgia continued to date while she attended Berea College in KY for two years.  They were married on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 1949.  They had one daughter, Connie, and Georgia stayed home until Connie started school.  Georgia then went to LMU and completed her degree in Elementary education and English.  Don, Georgia, and Connie moved to Morristown in 1961, and Georgia began her teaching career at Hillcrest Elementary.  She stayed there for 7 years and then transferred to John Hay when the new school opened in 1968.  Georgia taught there for 30 years until her retirement in 1998.  If you were fortunate to have Mrs. Rowlett as a teacher, you became one of her ‘boys or girls.’  One of her greatest joys was seeing her students grow up and visiting with them the last several years.  

Georgia was a member of Buffalo Trail Baptist Church, and a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church for a few years.  Her greatest joy was singing in the choir.  Over the years, she served as a GA leader, Bible School Teacher, choir leader, member of the Handbell group, WMU leader, and as a helper with children’s drama.  Her last service to Buffalo Trail was Sunday School teacher for her women’s class for 40 plus years.  

The family wishes to thank each of you for your friendship over the years.  We will be forever grateful to Avalon Hospice, especially Sharon Wells and Pastor Joe.  We also could not have done this without the exceptional care Georgia received at Life Care of Morristown.  

Visitation will be at Buffalo Trail Baptist Church on Mon., Nov. 7, from 4 – 6 PM, with funeral services following at 6 PM.  Interment will be Tues., Nov. 8, at 9 AM, in Hamblen Memory Gardens.  The Reverend Dr. Keith Mowery and the Reverend Dr. Jason Ivy will be officiating.  

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Appalachian Christmas Backpack Ministry of Buffalo Trail Baptist Church or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.  

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