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Former principal becomes childrens book author
Brenda 2
Brenda Jenkins hands the microphone to grandson Tripp to repeat a phrase of her book, The Swing on Ginnys Porch, at Ebenezer Elementary School. Other students took the stage with Tripp as Jenkins interacted with the 694 students who attended the National Book Week presentation. Jenkins served as the Ebenezer Elementary School principal seven years earlier. - photo by Special to the Herald

Brenda Jenkins recently stood before a cafeteria full of students at Ebenezer Elementary School — kindergarten through fifth grade — to read them her book, “The Swing on Ginny’s Porch.” Seven years earlier, she had stood on the very same stage addressing a different group of youngsters as the Ebenezer school principal.

"It was different but yet familiar," Jenkins said, adding that life events that happened during her time away motivated her to write a book for her 5-year-old grandson. In the book, she uses repetition and rhymes to re-enact the conversations that she and grandson Tripp shared in the old swing. Topics of conversation touch on everyday life experiences, including unexpected surprises — such as a grandmother’s cancer — openly and honestly.

Beth Kight, the current Ebenezer Elementary School principal and a co-worker from Jenkins’ 30-year educational career, had this to say about the National Book Week presentation given to the 694 elementary school children.

“We chose Brenda to speak because she’s a new author but also because she has 30 years of educational service and she knows how to interact with children,” said Kight. “Her book is centered around compassion, love, grace and basic human needs. Students were attentive and seemed to enjoy the interaction, repeating phrases from the book as Brenda read and shared ideas about how they could be writers too.

“It’s a well-written and well-illustrated book,” Kight added. “The story is told through the lens of a loving grandmother who has experienced difficulty and overcome with a grateful heart.”

One of those difficulties began in the spring of 2012 when Jenkins was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her surgeries, during months of recuperation, she began to recall the rhymes she had created in her mind while training for a three-day walk for breast cancer just a few months prior. These rhymes became even more meaningful as she battled the disease herself.

That’s when she decided to compile her rhymes and conversations as a book about the special memories made during the hours she and Tripp spent in the swing on her porch.

Jenkins said she hoped by recording those conversations and sharing them, Tripp and others would see that she gained strength to fight her illness from the love of family, and memories that they shared.

“My memories gave me the strength I needed when I was sick,” Jenkins added. “Writing them down for Tripp gave us both a way to keep and cherish them.”

Suzanne Martin, a long-time friend of Jenkins, commented on her positive attitude, as well as her creativity as an author, a grandmother and a seamstress, another successful part-time business venture taken up since retirement.

“I’m not surprised that Brenda wrote this book,” Martin said. “She’s a quiet person. Getting the cancer diagnosis was a blow that she dealt with by writing about her feelings. She looked at the world around her and saw what was important. Tripp was at the top of that list. Not knowing how much time she might have with him, she wrote about the precious moments they shared. What a treasure to leave him. Thankfully, with her (being cancer-free), there will be lots more porch time in her future.”

Jenkins is excited about her newfound talent and the future ahead but admits that she has no idea where it will take her.

“I never dreamed I would write this book or that it would be featured at two nationally-recognized book festivals,” she said, “but here I am.

“My hope is that it will open up conversations about cancer, or any illness, between children and adults. I want to remind family members how important they are to each other and encourage them to express it often.”

Jenkins will continue to talk about her book to others who are interested. In February, she will address a women’s group in Effingham County about her journey with cancer and the importance of making memories with those we love.

Groups interested in having Jenkins speak about her cancer challenges or about how to write and publish a book can contact her at brendamjenkins@windstream.net or visit 2 Sisters n Stitches on Facebook.

“The Swing on Ginny’s Porch” is available on www.amazon.com under children’s books.