Pastor Larry Kenneth Jenkins Jr., 56, of Connelly Springs passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at Frye Regional Medical Center following a brief period of declining health.
Ken was born May 6, 1968 in Haywood County to Larry Kenneth Jenkins Sr. and the late Becky Lou Thomas Jenkins. He was a 1986 graduate of West Henderson High School and has been in ministry for over thirty years. Before his service as pastor, he coached Hiawassee Dam, Hunter Huss, and Polk County in numerous sports. Ken pastored at Longview Church of God for eleven years and prior to that was the pastor at Tryon Church of God. He served on the Western North Carolina Church of God Youth Board and the Church of God Mission Board. Ken was the former Chaplain for Longview Police Department, Longview Fire Department, and the East Burke High School Football team; he was also one of the football announcers at East Burke HS. Ken loved everyone and was everyone’s friend. He lived and preached about unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness, and to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. His motto and rule with the youth group was, “if it’s dumb, don’t do it.” It should also be mentioned, Ken was a HUGE NC Tarheel fan!
In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife of thirteen years, Melody Dove Jenkins; children, Tommy Jenkins, Joshua Honeycutt and wife Carley, Heather Semones and husband Chris, and Jeremy Honeycutt and wife Breann; grandchildren Cody Semones, Cheyenne Honeycutt, Zach Semones, Kaylin Honeycutt, Landon Semones, Ryder Honeycutt, MacKenzie Semones, and Carson Semones. Also surviving are his brothers, Keith Jenkins and wife Lisa, and Kelly Joe Jenkins and wife Becky, father and mother in-law; Rev. Walter and Sylvia Dove, and numerous, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Longview Church of God with Rev. Pat Garrett, Coach Jeff Wilson, and Bishop Kip Box officiating. Interment will be held at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Granite Falls.
The family will receive friends prior to the service on Saturday, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Western NC Church of God State Youth Camp Scholarship Fund at WNC Church of God 8600 William Ficklen Drive, Charlotte, NC 28269 or www.wnccog.org
So sorry praying that you all . I know he is
Shouting and Running the of Gold
Pastor Ken you will be missed so much. I wonder if you knew just how many people loved you ? Heaven received a wonderful God fearing man . Praying for all his family and friends. God bless you Pastor Ken.
Oh PK! Never would’ve thought this day would happen! You’re the one that’s supposed to be there for us! You’re my mentor, my Pastor, my friend! You will definitely be missed! Always remember that you were unconditionally loved, accepted and forgiven but mostly Jesus loves you more! Love you so much PK! Save a place for me once you finally calm down from the excitement of being in heaven with Jesus! Send us a big ole belly flop from Heaven with yo 95 lb behind! 🤟🙏💜
What Pastor Ken gave will last for generations. May his legacy live on in the MANY lives he touched. The community and the church has lost a pillar, but gained the greatest of examples by the life and person Ken was.
Love and prayers to the family and the church.
Praying for you, Melody and your family. Pastor Ken will sure be missed.
Rest in Paradise my Brother. Thank you for the greatest gift, your friendship ❤️. I will miss you till Heaven❤️. Prayers for Melody, the family, and all my Church of God friends🙏🏻❤️😢
While ministering here in Murphy, Ken was a friend to everyone. He lived a servant’s life in and out of the church building. His legacy is lived each day in the lives of those he touched. Rest well, until the glorious day of His coming! You will be missed.
Pastor ken I am so thankful that I got to have you as a pastor and a father, you may not have been my actual father or a step father but you showed me love that a father would show to one’s children and I could have never expressed how thankful I was and am for that I love you so much and I miss you!
We will miss our sweet Pastor.
Ken was a special man. He got me back into church. He served God the best a man can. He gathered many sheep.
So sorry for your loss I met Ken at the church of God he was a nice Pastor I know he will be missed may God be with you all God bless you all prayers for all the family
Ken was such a sweet dear Man of God who loved deeply. He was easy to love and He never failed to tell me
he loved me when we talked. He was so easy to work alongside of in the office. He will be so missed by everyone, God’s comfort to Melody, his family, friends and the Longview Church Family.
Ken was a wonderful man of God. I was always blessed by the services he was in. So sorry for your loss, he will be missed by many. Love and prayers for family and friends.
I will miss my dear Pastor! He was a true Man of God and I have been honored to be a pert of the Longview Church of God! Rest in Peace Pastor until we meet again.
Melody and Family,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I am not a member of Long View Church of God but was able
to visit several times when invited by Kathy and Kenny Duke. I was made to feel very welcome by
both you and your husband and the second time I came, I heard ya’ll say that if you come twice
that makes you a member. I truly did feel welcome! You are precious in His sight!
So sorry for your loss! We knew Ken from Murphy where he was youth pastor to our teens. He was greatly loved by all 3 of our kids. I know he touched many lives and planted many seeds that will produce fruit for years to come.
William and Tammy Walker
Adeleshia, Aaron and Olivia
So sorry. Ken was a great friend!
I am at a loss for words. Ken was a great guy, a compassionate person and a lover of God. I came to know Ken from my time at Linwood COG when he was youth pastor. I remember our long talks after church about various things and his sense of humor and laughter. Ken was a good friend and example. I hate so much that his passing was now. I know he had many dreams and goals and was pushing and striving every day to gain those. My condolences to the church, his family and his wife. He will be missed, but not forgotten. For this is not a time to say goodbye but a see you later friend. Greetings and maranatha from this side to yours dear friend. Now go take rest and know you finished your race old friend. Love you.
Ken was such a huge blessing in our lives! Such a sweet wonderful Godly man!! He will definitely be missed greatly! Our hearts and prayers go to his friends and family!!!RIP Brother Ken!!
Pastor Ken was a great man of God with so much love to share! He will be truly missed by our family. Praying for Melody and family and the church families.
This man truly had a servant’s heart. You only have to read his obituary to know that. I have heard it said, if you want to know if you are being effective for God, see if the community would even notice if you were gone. There is no doubt the Longview community and beyond will definitely miss Pastor Ken! Love you so much Sis. Melody. Praying for the family and the Church.
My love and comfort to you, Melody and to all the family. God sent me to your church for a season. I needed to be baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit…. To be saved. He chose Pastor Ken to do it. HALLELUJAH! Now that he’s watching us from above… He knows for sure that I am not from New York, but from New Jersey.. 😁 ❤️
“MELODY AND THE FAMILY”
In traveling from VA.-NC To visit my sons. I had the opportunity to sit under Pastor Ken’s messages and Teaching. I pictured him as a GENTLE GIANT, who Sheperd his Flock, Loved The Lord, and Gave that unconditional Love he spoke of to everyone. A Legacy he certainly left, for the future generation. Honored to have met you!.
Till we meet again Brother…
Pastor Ken was The Superman that God sent to save Longview, NC. He has been the key that unlocked the foundation of unity between denominations and people who otherwise would have never interacted, and are now spreading the love of Jesus to the the lost and those in need in our community. He is watching this work from heaven now, but he is the catalyst to something that the devil can never stop. I am so proud of you Pastor Ken! You did more for God and people in your days here than anyone I have ever met. You are my pastor, my friend, my counselor and you have changed my life in so many ways! My family sends so much love to you and your family! Until we meet again sweet man with the big blue eyes that warm your soul. Earth is at a loss, but heaven gained a jewel.