Hilton Head Island, June 15-16, 2018  |  This year's May Calendar of SC Events is brought to you by Hilton Head's annual Juneteenth Celebration, featuring special performances by Marlena Smalls and the Hallelujah Singers, as well as Lowcountry legends Ranky Tanky and Candice Woodson. The featured film is The Language You Cry In. Enjoy a fish dinner and West African-style drum circle, along with live gospel music, spirituals, storytellers, and re-enactors. Explore Mitchelville's Reconstruction era through art, food, music, and live demonstrations.

South Carolina Maritime Museum
843-520-0111  |  729 Front Street, Georgetown, SC 29440
Home to the prized Fresnel (pronounced fray-nell) lens of the old Georgetown Lighthouse, this museum's mission is to share South Carolina's rich and remarkable maritime history. Located on the Sampit River, it features historic photographs and paintings, sketches, documents, models, artifacts, and interactive exhibits that both entertain and inform.

I wrote the following article earlier this week and had planned to publish it today. We learned late last week that our dear friend, Jim Jenkins, had been diagnosed with cancer and had just a couple months to live. Jim passed away yesterday afternoon. He will never be able to read these words, but please join us in celebrating his life and spirit. Kerri, Brandon, and I will miss him terribly. He was a gift. – Robin

This month marks our 175th edition of SCIWAY News, and in March, we celebrated 22 years of service to South Carolina. Our journey over the past two decades has been wonderful indeed, and we continue to discover new stories, landmarks, communities, and resources to share with our state.

( Dr. James "Jim" Jenkins, Chesterfield Native )

However, none of these things can compare to the people we have met along the way, and this month, we want to honor one particular person who has not only been especially kind and generous, but also brought us so much camaraderie and joy. In many ways, this person has been an angel, both to us here at SCIWAY and also to South Carolina as a whole.

( Jim Jenkins, Rock Presbyterian Church, Greenwood © Do Not Use Without Written Consent )

Although he now resides in Georgia – a fact we try not to hold against him! – Dr. Jim Jenkins was born in Chesterfield, and his love for his hometown and native state has never failed. In fact, after spending his childhood in Chesterfield during the 1940s and 1950s, he returned there to teach school and coach, an experience he calls "one of my greatest joys."

( Jim Jenkins, Burt-Stark Mansion, Abbeville © Do Not Use Without Written Consent )

A Korean War veteran, Jim attended Furman University and later earned his undergraduate degree from Newberry College. He received his doctorate from the University of South Carolina, and in time, became Superintendent of Schools in Boiling Springs, Lake City, and Timmonsville. He also taught in Swansea and, upon retirement, lived in Fort Mill before moving to the Athens area to be near family.

( Jim Jenkins, Troy ARP Church, Greenwood County © Do Not Use Without Written Consent )

Jim has traveled South Carolina extensively, contributing over 100 photos to the South Carolina Picture Project. He is also one of the primary reasons the South Carolina Picture Project exists today, as he was among the largest donors to our fundraising campaign last year. We will never forget his support and encouragement during that difficult time.

( Jim Jenkins, Grace Episcopal, Ridge Spring © Do Not Use Without Written Consent )

Perhaps like no one else we have known, Jim has taken the time to include our small team in his life, making us laugh with his funny emails, sending us cards and letters each Christmas, sharing tales of his family and adventures, and listening to our own tales in return. It would be hard for me to overstate what a blessing he has been to us personally and also to the South Carolina Picture Project, which is now rich with his extraordinary photography, his keen observations, and his invaluable primary-source interviews.

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