Aug. 24, 1925 – Aug. 18, 2011

NATCHEZ — Services for Hyde Dunbar Jenkins, 85, of Natchez, who died Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Denny Read and the Rev. Noelle Read officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the family home “Hawthorne” and from 2 p.m. until service time Sunday at the church.

Mr. Jenkins was born Aug. 24, 1925, in Natchez, the son of Hyde Rust Jenkins and Helen Byrnes Jenkins.

He was a graduate of the Natchez public schools and attended Mississippi State University, where he played varsity football and was a member of the “M” Club. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps in the China-Burma-India Theatre of War during World War II.

Mr. Jenkins was a member of First Presbyterian Church and served as deacon and elder of the church.

Mr. Jenkins was the founder of Vidalia Dock and Storage as well as Two “J” Ranch Operations. His memberships included First Families of Mississippi for which he was Governor General, Natchez Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution for which he served as president, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited and the Boston Club of New Orleans.

Mr. Jenkins was also active in the local community serving as president of the Natchez Recreation Council and Natchez Swim Association. He was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman, having had interests in thoroughbred horse breeding and racing. He farmed the Eleven J Ranch in Frogmore and was a cattle producer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Annie Ferriday Coleman, Helen Louise Kuehnle and Katherine Denver Slatter.

Survivors include his wife, Bettye McGehee Jenkins; one son, Hyde Rust Jenkins and wife, Beverly; two daughters, Stella Jenkins Carby and husband, Philip, and Carla Elizabeth Jenkins, all of Natchez; eight grandchildren, Dr. Phillips Jenkins and wife, Laurel, and Daniel Wisner and wife, Elizabeth, all of New Orleans, Dunbar Jenkins and wife, Anastasia, of Oxford, Gaston Carby and wife, Mollie, of Baton Rouge, Bettye Roberts and husband, Charlie, of Halls, Tenn., Hyde Carby and wife, Lee, Sarah Catherine Wisner and Lauren Lucus and husband, David, all of Natchez; four great-granddaughters, Isabel, Jane, Stella and Kathryn; one sister, Abigail Jenkins Healy of Natchez; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Gaston Chalk Carby, Lemuel Phillips Jenkins, Edgar Hyde Carby, Hyde Dunbar Jenkins II, Daniel James Wisner, Charles Nelson Roberts and David Eugene Lucus.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Natchez or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.