Lessie Bell Jenkins was the sixth child born to the late Scott

Thornton and Mattie Hill Thornton on March 4th, 1922, in Yazoo

County, Mississippi. While surrounded by her loved ones, Lessie

Bell departed this earthly journey peacefully on February 16th,

2026, in Bentonia, MS.

Growing up in Phoenix, Mississippi, Bentonia, MS, and Bolton,

Mississippi, Lessie Bell accepted Christ at an early age. She

joined New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church under the

leadership of Pastor Cox. She was a faithful member of New

Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, where she faithfully

attended until her health failed her.

In the 1940s, Lessie Bell married Reverend Johnny A. Jenkins

Sr. To this union, seven children were born. Lessie Bell Jenkins

also had a son, Bobby Lee Thornton.

Lessie Bell spent her life as a farmer and mother. She spent her

years in Bentonia, MS; she was known as a woman who was a

hard-worker, helping hand, a good cook, and an extraordinary

mother. Lessie Bell always had a word for you, like "Don't pick

up no hitchhiker," as you left her home; this was to make sure

that you kept safe until the next time she saw you. Throughout

For years, she served as her family's matriarch; she was a mother

When someone needed one, a grandmother, when you missed yours,

and a therapist who always kept it real when you needed to talk

about your life. Lessie Bell Thornton Jenkins was one of a kind

that many were lucky to come across.

Lessie Bell Jenkins was preceded in death by one daughter,

Minnie Lee Jenkins; a son, Bobby Lee Thornton; her parents,

Scott and Mattie Hill Thornton; siblings: Clemmie Thornton,

Lula Mae Fisher, Johnny Thornton, Excell Thornton, Lillie Mae

McPherson, and Reverend George Thornton; grandchildren:

Benjamin O. Haggard, Florette Willard, Deidra (Trina) Jenkins,

and Andrew (Drew) Jackson; sons-in-law: Henry Jackson, J.C.

Grayer and Clifton Miller. Lessie Bell Jenkins was also preceded

in death by her husband, Reverend Johnny A. Jenkins Sr.

Lessie Bell Jenkins leaves to cherish her loving memories one

son: Johnny (Earnestine) Jenkins, Jr. of Bentonia, MS, five

daughters: Mary Lee Jenkins of Jackson, MS; Virginia Jackson;

Flora Bell Miller; Dorothy Jenkins, all of Yazoo City, MS; Rosetta

Grayer and Katherine (Albert Earl) Richardson, both of

Bentonia, MS. Lessie Bell also leaves to cherish her memories

a lot of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren,

great-great-great grandchildren whom she loved

and treat oh so wonderfully. Lessie Bell also leaves a host of

niece, nephews,