Norma Jean Godwin Jenkins

   Norma Jean Godwin Jenkins, 84, of Ashburn, VA, returned to her Heavenly Father on Thursday, February 8, 2018. Her passing was unexpected.

   Jean was born in Perquimans County, NC and was the daughter of the late Archie and Bessie Cartwright Godwin, formerly of Winfall. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Archie Godwin, Jr. and James Godwin.

   A 1951 graduate of Perquimans County High School, she went on to become a devoted educator. First, she earned a B.A. in Education from East Carolina, and then went on to receive two Masters degrees; one in Elementary Guidance Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and one in Elementary Education from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Jean was a school teacher in Moore County, NC for thirty years, most of which she taught fourth grade in Southern Pines.

   Jean retired to the coast of North Carolina and worked as a guide on Portsmouth Island on the Outer Banks. She loved the beach and could often be found boating, fishing, shell hunting or teaching her grandchildren how to water ski. She loved to travel and visited her daughter on her numerous assignments around the world including Paraguay, Brazil, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Thailand, Hong Kong, England, Belgium, and Panama. Jean settled down on her beloved old family farm near Hertford in 2008 where she especially loved the now magnificent magnolia trees she had planted on the farm decades ago. After suffering a stroke in 2010, she moved to Ashburn.

   Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Becky Bruton and her husband Brad of Ashburn; three grandchildren, Derek Bruton and wife Amy of Ashburn, Sarah Peterson and husband Ryan of Bucharest, Romania, and Eythan Bruton and wife Liz of Herndon, VA; and two great-grandchildren; James and Charlotte Peterson of Bucharest. Also surviving are three nieces, Suzette Romer and husband Rob of Alpharetta, GA, Tammy Gibbs and husband Dave of Ty Ty, GA, and Melanie Gibbs and husband Eddie of Tifton, GA; two nephews , Kevin Godwin and wife Christie of Enigma, GA; and Bill Godwin; and a sister-in-law, Katherine Godwin, both of Alapaha, GA.

   Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 15, at 10:30 a.m. with visitation and viewing from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ashburn.

   Another service will be held on Saturday, February 17, at 10:00 am in the Miller and Van Essendelft Funeral Chapel, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford. Burial will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery. Friends may join the family in the funeral home the half hour prior to the service on Saturday.

   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made either to the Perquimans County Restoration Association, PO Box 103, Hertford, NC 27944, or to the ASPCA.

   Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.