Celebrating the life of Deacon Rufus J. Jennings, sunrise, December 5, 1914, sunset, January 26, 2003, Thursday, January 30, 2003, 3:30 p.m., Mount Canaan Baptist Church, 2451 Edgefield Road, Trenton, South Carolina 29847, Reverend G. L. Brightharp, officiating pastor, Mount Canaan Cemetery

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2003 -- 3:30 p.m.
MOUNT CANAAN BAPTIST CHURCH 2451 Edgefield Road
Trenton, South Carolina 29847
REVEREND G.L. BRIGHTHARP, Officiating Pastor
Interment MOUNT CANAAN CEMETERY

This is not n time to feel distressed, I have gone on to take mi/ rest,
just remember the joys and smiles we shared, I can rest easy knowing yon always cared. Trust in God, He will carry yon through, Keep my memory until the day I see you.
Rufus J. Jennings, Sr., son of the late Will and Mary Bell Jennings was born in Saluda County and was called home by GOD, January 26, 2003 at Mercy Medical Center, Rockville Centre, New York. He was a member of the Mount Canaan Baptist Church in Trenton, South Carolina. He served on the deacon board until he came to New York four years ago. Prior to moving back to South Carolina, he was one of the founders, deacon and faithful member of Faith Baptist Church in Hempstead, New York. He also sang with the South Hempstead Male Chorus. He was educated at Saluda County Public Schools in Saluda, South Carolina. For more then twenty-five years, he was a Mason of the Simmons Lodge 3A, North Augusta, South Carolina.
He moved to New York in 1952. He held several jobs to include Board of Education, West Hempstead and Grumman's Aerospace until he retired. He was also an entrepreneur and had his own landscape business in New York and South Carolina. He was married to the late Osaceola Tillman until her death in 1975. To this union, four children were born, Rufus, Jr., Rubena, Wendell and Bonita. In 1985 he married the late Shineida Simpkins Williams and gained four step children, Henry, Joshua, Brenda and Beryl. He had a great sense of hum or and enjoyed making people laugh. He was a kind, compassionate and religious gentleman.
He leaves to cherish his memory: three children, Rufus Jennings, Jr., (Marian) of Roselle, New Jersey, Rubena Myers Mills (Howard) of Hempstead, New York and Wendell Jennings (Vilinda) of Decatur, Georgia; four stepchildren, Henry (Annie Ruth) Williams, Jr., Joshua (Mattie) Williams, Beryl (Michael) Garrett, all of Aiken County, South Carolina and Brenda (Lindsey) Sims of Hephzibah, Georgia; three brothers, six sisters-in-law, and four brothers-in-law, Willie (Unie) Jennings of Hephzibah, Georgia, Jerold (Alma) Jennings and Albert (Jean) Jennings of Graniteville, South Carolina, Joshua (Carolyn) Simpkins of Freeport, New York, Roosevelt (Alice) Simpkins of Aiken, South Carolina, Elder Gradie Brown of Baltimore, Maryland and Fiesta Kneece of Los Angeles, California; three sisters, Mary Jennings, Ora Jennings and Viola (Paul) Williams all of G raniteville, South Carolina; twenty-one grandchildren, a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephew s, cousins and friends. One daughter, Benita preceded him in death.
He touched many lives and all will truly miss him.

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ODGE #3A

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MOUNT CANAAN BAPTIST CHURCH Trenton, South Carolina
PROCESSIONAL................ "W hat a F rien d We H av e In Jesu s"
HYMN OF COMFORT ..... ............................."A m azing G race"
SCRIPTURE........................... ................................Old Testament New Testament
PRAYER OF COMFORT
SO LO ...................................... ................... "H ow G reat Thou A rt" Ms. Jean Mosley
REFLECTIONS .................... ...................... Family and Friends ( Two minutes please)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................... Church Clerk OBITUARY............................. .................... (Please read silently) MUSIC SELECTION ........... ................................ "I'll F ly A w ay"
Senior Choir EU LO G Y............................................Reverend G.L. Brightharp
FINAL VIEW ING............................................. Funeral Director
BENEDICTION
RECESSIONAL..................... ................... "Soon an d Very Soon"
Interment MOUNT CANAAN CEMETERY (Masonic Ritual - Simmons Lodge #3A)

I watched you slowly fade away And coidd not make you stay For God wanted you with Him
In that Mansion fa r away Human hands toiled hard to save you
Prayers and tears were all in vain Happy Angels came and took you
From this weary world o f pain. God knew how much you had suffered
And the hills were hard to climb So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, "Peace be thine."
Lovingly Submitted, The Family
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PALLBEARERS: The Deacons
FLOWER BEARERS: The Deaconess (In memory of the late Shineida Williams Jennings)
RECEPTION (Immediatelyfolloiving interment)
Acknowledgments The Family wishes to acknowledge those who found many ways to express acts of kindness during our loss. The calls, cards, visits, donations and words of comfort will always be remembered. May GOD bless each of you.
Funeral Services Entrusted to:
CARL C. BURNETT FUNERAL HOME, INC. 456 South Franklin Street
Hempstead, New York 11550 (516) 489-4492 and
G.L. BRIGHTHARP & SONS MORTUARY 614 West Avenue
North Augusta, South Carolina 29841 (803) 279-0026

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