LORETTA MABEL WHITMORE JENNINGS, 102.

A lifelong resident of Little Rock, matriculated through the Little Rock Public School System graduating at 16 years old from what was then Dunbar High School. After high school, she briefly taught elementary school in rural Arkansas.

She returned to Little Rock to attend Philander Smith College, of which she was always a proud and supportive alumnus. Loretta taught school during the day at what is now Harris Elementary while acquiring her undergraduate degree from Philander at night. Loretta was a teacher dedicated to her students. Many times she would leave home with clothes from her own children to give to students less fortunate. She eventually ended her teaching career after 37 years, retiring from Cloverdale Elementary School in Little Rock.

For over 70 years, Loretta was a stalwart member of Union A.M.E. Church. She loved her church and was dedicated to the youth of the church, the young women in particular. Because of her service the Young Women’s Missionary Society is named in her honor. During her life at Union she fulfilled many functions the Steward Board, Bereavement Ministry, but it was music that was her passion and she shared that passion with her church family. She played piano for the Senior Choir and also played for the church’s Sunday School well into her nineties.

Loretta is preceded in death by her late husband Mr. Enlow Lemuel Jennings, two sons Dr. James Milton Jennings and Curtis Edward Jennings. Her parents Calvin and Zeola Whitmore and siblings Berniece Bobo, Lois Myers and Clavin Whitmore Jr. She is survived by two sons, Lemuel (Patricia) and Brent (Juanita) Jennings, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and a host of nieces.

There will be a graveside service at Little Rock National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. Services will be livestreamed on Ruffin & Jarrett’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ruffinjarrett/live/ Visitation will be Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at noon to 4:30 p.m. Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home. Masks are required and social spacing is required.