Sarah Jenkins lit up every room she entered with her infectious laugh and boundless energy. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, she moved to Chicago at age eighteen to pursue her dreams of becoming a teacher, where she met the love of her life, Marcus, at a community fundraiser. Their whirlwind romance led to marriage in 1975, and together they created a home filled with music, storytelling, and the aroma of Sarah's famous sweet potato pie. While teaching third grade at Lincoln Elementary for over three decades, Sarah somehow found time to coach her daughters' double-dutch team and never missed one of her son's baseball games, often leading the crowd in spirited cheers from the bleachers.

Family and friends remember Sarah for her tradition of Sunday dinner gatherings, where she would cook enormous meals while dancing around the kitchen to Motown classics, encouraging her children—Michael, Jasmine, and Angela—to join in as her backup dancers. Her home became the neighborhood hub where local kids knew they could always find a sympathetic ear, a warm meal, and help with their homework. Sarah's special gift was making everyone feel like family, whether she was organizing block parties, running the school's drama club, or simply braiding her daughters' hair while sharing wisdom about life and love. Her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched with her generosity, her unwavering optimism, and her belief that every day was an opportunity to make someone else's world a little brighter.