Dorothy Howse Baker Jenkins

Dorothy Howse Baker Jenkins transitioned on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Dorothy Ann Howse was born in Nashville, Davidson County, TN on March 11, 1932, the second of four children born to the late Edward Julian Howse, Jr. and Emma Oden Howse. She lived a long and full life to the age of 93 years before her transition on August 31, 2025 in Nashville, TN at Alive Hospice.

Dorothy graduated from Pearl High School in 1949 and participated as a life-long member of the 49-ners, a group of fellow 1949 Pearl High graduates. She then attended Tennessee State University, majoring in Home Economics and becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She later went back to TSU to earn a Master’s Degree in Education.

Upon her undergraduate graduation, she had a long career as an elementary school teacher with the Nashville Metropolitan School system. She taught many years at Murrell Elementary School, and also taught at Carter Lawrence Elementary, finally retiring from Rose Park Elementary School.

From Dorothy’s marriage to Rogers E. Baker, they were blessed with two daughters, Karen Maria and Rochelle Lynn as well as a son, Rogers Sean. Karen and Rochelle and their families currently live in the metro-Atlanta area while Rogers Sean and his family live in Nashville. Dorothy enjoyed and was an integral part of Rogers Sean’s and his family’s lives in Nashville. She also enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Atlanta.

Everything Dorothy undertook she performed with excellence. She had high standards for herself and for her children, and no doubt for the students she taught. She loved to sew and made beautiful dresses for her daughters for many years. She was also a talented artist, making beautiful bulletin boards for her school and for other organizations.

Dorothy began playing tennis in her 40s and was an active member and participant with the Hadley Park Tennis Club. She was an avid tennis player and enthusiast the rest of her life.In later years, Dorothy reconnected with a friend from Pearl High School who was a fellow 49-ner, Wilbert Floyd Jenkins. Their friendship grew and they eventually were married in 2002 at Howard Congregational Church where Dorothy was an active member. They were only blessed with 7 years of marriage as Wilbert passed in 2009.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbert Floyd Jenkins, her sister Joan (Brinkley) Hill, and her brothers Dr. Robert Julian Howse and Frank Emmett Howse. She leaves to continue her legacy and to cherish her life, her children, daughter Karen Baker (John) Clinkscales, granddaughter Kamilah Evans, great-grandchildren Kamara and Jabari, granddaughter Asha (Melvin) Ushery, grandchildren Amani and Mason, and granddaughters Tabia and Salihah; daughter Rochelle Baker Pate (Romeo) Stockett, granddaughter Nichelle Pate (Keir) Sims, great-grandchildren Paten and Solana, grandson Herman Robert (Jennifer) Pate,III, great-granddaughters Skylar and Saige; son Rogers Sean (Jacqueline) Baker, grandson Rogers Ian and granddaughter Marisela, great-grandson Alexander Cruz. She also leaves her sister-in-law Thelma Howse, niece ReTonya Howse, great-niece Lauren Mead and great-nephew Richard (LaShonda) Mead, niece Zynthia Howse; sister-in-law Ann Howse, nephew Frank Emmett (Sharmae) Howse Jr, great-nephew Edward and great-niece Jilliana, and niece Joyce (Eric) Lee and numerous other family members and friends.

Please keep the Jenkins family in your thoughts and prayers.

In lieu of flowers, please make charitable donations to Alive Hospice or Howard Congregational Church.