Kathye Jenkins

Kathye Jenkins was born and raised in Los Angeles. After elementary school, her family moved from Central Avenue to West of Broadway, which was an integrated neighborhood. Her father was a router at Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica and her mother worked in children’s clothing at The Broadway department store on Crenshaw Boulevard. She attended Crenshaw High School, which shifted from integrated to predominantly African American by the time she graduated. Kathye met her husband, James, while she was studying to become a nurse. Soon after marrying, James decided to pursue the ministry and has served as the pastor at Abundant Grace Bible Church. In 2001, Kathye founded the Cynthia Perry Ray Foundation to distribute scholarships. After her sister died of heart failure in 2011, Kathye dedicated her efforts to spreading health information within her community. Since beginning her work, she’s gone on to host conferences for women’s and men’s health. Kathye challenges her peers to pass on values and be examples to younger generations.