Wednesday, December 14, 2022 10:34 am

Mary Joan Jenkins, age 87 of Forest City died Friday, December 9, 2022.

Joan was born in Rutherford County January 2, 1935, and was a daughter of the late Otis Ervin Mitchell, Sr., and Sue Eva Turner Mitchell.

Joan was a graduate of Tri Community High School and a member of Race Path Baptist Church.

Joan worked in the Rutherford County Clerk of Courts office starting as an assistant clerk, then as Deputy Clerk.

She was elected to the position of Clerk of Court 1978-1986. She was the first woman in Rutherford County elected to a court position at Rutherford County Courthouse.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband Bobby Joe Jenkins, brother Otis Ervin Mitchell, Jr., and sister Evelyn Mitchell Lovelace.

Survivors include her daughter Kim Jenkins Cole of Forest City, son Bobby Jenkins and wife Marj of Raleigh, brother Jimmy Layne Mitchell and wife Livia of Spartanburg, SC, six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11am Saturday, December 17 at Race Path Baptist Church with Rev. Jeremy Jenkins and Rev. Randall Cooper officiating. Her son will deliver a eulogy. The family will receive friends following the service in the Sanctuary. Interment will be private for the family in the church cemetery.

The family requests memorials be made to Fairhaven Home of Forest City Patient Activity Fund, 830 Bethany Church Rd, Forest City, NC 28043 or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 401 Harrison Oaks Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27513. (LLS.org).

An online guest registry is available at http://www.padgettking.com