James "Bj" Bradshaw Jenkins, Jr.

James Bradshaw Jenkins, Jr. (Brad or BJ), 69, passed away peacefully at his home in Bluffton, SC on Thursday, January 20, 2022, with his beloved wife, Sara, by his side. Brad was born on March 30, 1952, to James B. Jenkins, Sr. and Catherine Elizabeth Edelen Shader. His parents predeceased him, along with two half-brothers, Edwin H. Shader and C. Gregory Shader.

Brad was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from Trinity High School in 1970. College was put on hold when he was drafted and joined the Air Force to honorably serve his country for eight years in the Vietnam War. After his service he returned to Kentucky and in short time pursued a career with AT&T. He progressed in the company and retired as Project Manager after twenty years of service in Kentucky, Louisiana and Georgia. During his tenure with AT&T, he attained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Coastal California University.

Brad and Sara retired in 2004 and moved to Bluffton, SC to be in a more temperate climate and near the ocean. He was dedicated to serving others and volunteered in his Sun City community for seven years as a Manager on the Safety & Service team. He was also a member of the Bluffton United Methodist Church and served as Finance Chairman, usher and greeter for many years until his health began to decline. His passion was golf, but he was a handyman personified and there was little he couldn’t do around the home. Brad never met a stranger and his love for the Lord, life and others shone through in his warm embrace of those around him. He was most courageous as he struggled with health issues for many years and is an inspiration to us all.

Brad is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 40 years, Sara Neely Patton (Sally) and his daughter, Heather R. Roth. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth A. Wright, (Betty), three granddaughters: Megan Phelphs, Catherine (Catie) Roth and Aspen Cunningham (Zack), one great-granddaughter, LilyAnn Brightman, many family members and countless friends.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, February 4 at 2:00 pm at Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort, SC 29902. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Bluffton United Methodist Church, PO Box 368, Bluffton, SC 29910; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital @ www.stjude.org ; or Crescent Hospice, 10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Bluffton, SC 29910.