Mary Lucille Jenkins Gregory, age 90, was born in Moyock, North Carolina on June 19, 1932 to Ola Garrett Jenkins and Henry Napoleon Jenkins. She was the youngest of nine children who lived to be adults. She entered eternal rest on Monday, January 9, 2023 in the loving presence of her devoted caregivers, Rev. Sandra Turner and Doris Jones.
Lucille graduated from Currituck Union School in 1951 as class valedictorian. In 1951, she married her high school sweetheart, James Dett Gregory. To this union were born three children, Jacquelyn, Carlton and James (“Boobie”). After the children became school age, she worked as a domestic at Virginia Beach Hotels during beach season and after integration, she worked as a grocery store clerk and later as a Peoples (now CVS) Drug Store Clerk until she retired.
At an early age, she was baptized and became a member of the Christian Home Baptist Church, Moyock, NC and later joined the First Baptist Church, Berkley, when she moved to Norfolk in 1987.
She was predeceased by all of her siblings: Margaret Morgan, William Jenkins, Sr., Julia Logan, Charlie Jenkins, Rufus Jenkins, Tullie Jenkins, Ola Virginia Forbes, and Emma Reid. She was also predeceased by her husband, James Dett Gregory, Sr., and her beloved daughter, Jacquelyn Gregory Reed.
Lucille leaves to cherish her memory, her devoted sons, Carlton S. Gregory (Valerie) and James D. Gregory, Jr., (Sheila). She is also survived by her loving grandchildren: Keith A. Gregory (Michelle), David Reed, Chanelle G. Pettaway (Treva), Jasmine Hazelton Gregory, Dayreun Robertson (Marquita), and E. Tirrell Robertson (Jodi), six great-grandchildren, several devoted nieces and nephews, and a host of cousins and friends.
