"Tommie" Jenkins Witte, born in Charleston, daughter of Jeannie Hyde and C. Bissell Jenkins Jr. died Monday, December 12, 2011. She was 93. She was married to Armin Franz Witte Jr. for 70 years.
Mrs. "Tommie" Jenkins Witte was born in Charleston on Sept. 4, 1918.
She was the granddaughter of former Charleston Mayor Tristum Tupper Hyde and of C. Bissell Jenkins who conceived the idea of developing the boulevard area and built the first house on Murray Boulevard along the Ashley River.
She received her education at Ashley Hall and The College of Charleston where she was a member of Tri Delta Sorority. She was a former assistant society editor with the Charleston Evening Post with editor Selma Furtwangler and was among the first group of volunteers with the Historic Charleston Foundation in 1947, and for many years served as a volunteer at Roper Hospital, The Charleston Museum and Horizon House.
After moving to Mount Pleasant in 1952 she served as a member of the Mount Pleasant Playground Commission and helped with the reorganizing of the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Mount Pleasant. She was a member of the Mount Pleasant's Citizen's Committee on Land Use in the 1970's.
She was a Board Member of the Ashley Hall Alumnae Association, Junior League of Charleston, the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina, Ladies Benevolent Society and Diocesan Altar Guild.
She was a member of the Huguenot society and was a member of St. Andrews Church in Mount Pleasant for over 50 years. While chairman of the Altar Guild she helped to organize the sewing of the needle point for the sanctuary.
As one of the founding members of East Cooper Meals on Wheels, she remained a volunteer for many years.
She was a member at Charleston Area Ladies Golf Association. She was a former substitute teacher in the Mount Pleasant public schools.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew's Church in Mount Pleasant. Burial will be private. A reception will follow in Sam's Hall. The family will receive visitors Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at their family home, 508 Pelzer Drive, Mount Pleasant.
She is survived by her husband of 70 years Armin Franz Witte and three sons; Armin Franz Witte III (Sheila), Bissell Jenkins "Jenks" Witte (Judy), and William Sparkman "Sparky" Witte (Teasie).
She had seven granddaughters and one grandson; Shannon Witte Smouse, Alice Witte Duehring, Anna Witte Cusick, Sully Witte Recine, William Sparkman "Sparky" Witte II, Tommie Jenkins "Jenksie" Witte, Liza Witte Hendrix, Charlotte Bonnetheau Witte; and eleven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to East Cooper Meals on Wheels, St. Andrew's Church or a charitable organization of your choice.