of North Little Rock, AR

January 10, 1939 - May 16, 2023

Nina Carolyn (Craig) Jenkins - Jan 10, 1939 - May 16, 2023.

Nina-Carolyn to most- was born in Poteet, TX in 1939, to Mary Nina Craig and Ellis Craig. Her father worked for the railroad, so she lived a life of travel, including a move to Anchorage, Alaska, where Carolyn graduated from high school. In Anchorage, she met and married Air Force airman Clay S. Jenkins in 1957. They were married for 60 years and raised three daughters, Marye Anne, Teresa and Michele.

Carolyn was the bedrock of the family, coordinating moves, raising the children, keeping her husband on track, amidst a life of constantly being transferred from one assignment to another, etc. While the roles of wife and mother were important to Carolyn, she was so much more. She loved to dance and excelled at the Twist as a teenager. She loved music of almost any kind, ranging from Chubby Checkers to Sonny and Cher, Herb Alpert, Floyd Cramer and any musical. She loved travel, going to California, Thailand, Germany and France, among other places. She was an avid reader and was rarely seen at rest without a book in her hand. She passed these passions on to her daughters and they are profoundly grateful. She became deeply involved in the Rape Crisis Center, offering help, comfort and support to countless victims.

Along the way, she was loved by everyone and as the saying goes, she "never met a stranger." She and Clay made life-long companions wherever they went and seemed to be the pivot point among their circle of friends. For her friends, she was a counselor, a therapist, a travel buddy and sometimes a vicious opponent in card games. Friends she made were friends for life.

Nina is survived by her brother, Ellis M. Craig; her three daughters, Marye Anne Simkulet, Teresa Robison and Michele Jenkins; grandchildren, Crystal Knauer, Carly Martinsky, Cassie Boyd, Rachel Vigil, Carnell Robison and Cordell Robison; as well as great-grandchildren, Jon Martinsky Sofia Boyd, Jason Jagger Halstrom and Ethan. To her younger brother, she was the cool older sister. To her daughters, she was friend, counselor, mentor and consummate role model on how to be a mother and how to be a person.

Nina is joining her beloved husband and family who went before her and will be greatly missed by those she is leaving behind.

Visitation will be Friday, May 19 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Roller-Owens Funeral Home, North Little Rock. Graveside service will be Tuesday, May 23 at 12:00 p.m. at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.

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