Rev. DeMett E. Jenkins was born in Chateauroux, France and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. She earned her degree in criminal justice from South Carolina State University and her Master of Divinity, with a focus on Pastoral Care and Counseling, from Virginia Union University Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology in Richmond, Virginia.
Rev. Jenkins spent 12 years working for United Family Services’ Shelter for Battered Women as a Social Worker/Counselor, Volunteer Coordinator, Court Advocate and Program Coordinator. In 1999, Rev. Jenkins designed and implemented a Domestic Violence Spiritual Advocate Ministry, an educational awareness ministry, through University Park Baptist Church.
Rev. Jenkins worked as a chaplain at Emory University Healthcare before serving as the Pastoral Care Coordinator at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. She returned home to Charleston in 2016 and now serves as the International African American Museum’s Lilly Director of Education and Engagement for Faith-Based Communities
The granddaughter of the late Esau Jenkins – a civil rights activist from Johns Island, South Carolina, who was a leader, businessman, and community organizer – DeMett has a love for outreach development and community involvement. She volunteers her time with Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy organization that responds to deaths, homicides and other crisis situations with both Charleston and North Charleston Police Departments.
You may contact DeMett Jenkins at djenkins@iaamuseum.org
