Shelby Jean Jenkins White

Shelby Jean Jenkins White, age 88, of Rutherfordton, passed away Saturday, December 27, 2025 at the Fair Haven Home in Forest City.

Shelby Jean was born Thursday, July 15, 1937 in Rutherford County to the late Herbert Cole and Alda Champion Cole. She was a graduate of Harris High School. Shelby Jean worked for Stonecutter Mill for several years and later worked as a lunchroom supervisor for the Rutherford County Public Schools. Having worked at Spindale Elementary School and at Chase High School. Shelby Jean was a member of Harris First Baptist Church where she served as the church pianist for many years. She enjoyed cooking, fishing, cutting grass and listening to bluegrass music. Shelby Jean was an avid NC Tarheel and Atlanta Braves fan. Her late husband Oren Jenkins was one of the pioneers and contributors to the three-finger banjo picking technique and she wholeheartedly supported Oren in all of his music endeavors. She was known for her great sense of humor and was a “people person” who never met a stranger.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Oren Mack Jenkins and Harold Dean White and a brother, Herbert Glenn Cole.

Those left to cherish her memory include a son, Phillip Jenkins (Linda) of Rutherfordton and daughter, Lori Phillips (Tyron) of Indian Trails, NC; grandchildren, Liza Berry, Shandra Twitty, Lane Jenkins, Jeanine Jenkins, Landis Jenkins (Alyssa), Kobe Phillips, Jaden Phillips; eleven great grandchildren; several nieces and nephew which includes her niece, Trisha Hines.

The funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 31st at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend George Whitmire officiating. Interment will follow at Eternal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.