Diane “Dee” Jenkins passed away peacefully on August 6, 2026, at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, Maryland, at the age of 78.
Born on February 19, 1948, in Saint Maries, Idaho, Dee was the daughter of L. Jane and Winton W. Wood. She spent much of her childhood in Staunton, Virginia, attended Ferrum College, and worked as a secretary while raising her two sons, Mark Garrison and Paul Garrison.
Throughout her life, Dee pursued her passion for spiritual growth, earning numerous certifications in Reiki and Resonance Repatterning. She found great joy in helping others through her spiritual practice and was always searching for ways to bring healing, encouragement, and perspective to those around her.
Later in life, Dee married the love of her life, Terry Jenkins. Together they built a life centered on family, faith, and simple pleasures. She lovingly embraced Terry’s children as her own and became a devoted stepmother to Tara Jenkins, April Jenkins, Terrence Jenkins, Cory Jenkins, and Kenny Jenkins.
She was a proud mother to her sons, Mark and Paul Garrison, a mother-in-law to Melissa and Darcie, and a loving grandmother to Sam, Jacob, Kaylee, Kyle, Mikale, Skylar, Kenny Jr., Kayla, Haley, Brianna, Victoria, Ashtin, and Alyssa. She was also blessed to become a great-grandmother to Ladimor. Her family was her greatest source of pride, and she cherished every opportunity to spend time with them.
Dee shared an especially close bond with her sister, Cecily Wood, her brother-in-law, Herb Beskar and her cousins, Tim and Eileen Robinette. Their friendships remained one of the constants throughout her life.
Dee lived her life with deep faith, an open heart, and an unwavering belief that every blessing—big or small—was worth recognizing. Whether she was helping someone find healing, searching for treasures at a yard sale with her husband Terry, or enjoying a day at the beach, she found joy in life’s simple gifts. Dee had an unwavering faith that carried her through life’s challenges and inspired those around her.
Anyone who knew Dee will remember her as an exceptional listener. She had a remarkable intuition that often left family and friends wondering how she seemed to know exactly what they were thinking or feeling before they ever said a word. She never hesitated to share her thoughts—sometimes a little more enthusiastically than people expected—but it always came from a place of love and genuine concern. Her insight, compassion, and unmistakable personality made her unforgettable.
One of Dee’s favorite expressions was, “Aren’t we blessed?” It was more than a saying—it was the way she chose to see the world, finding gratitude even in life’s most difficult moments.
A celebration of Dee’s life will be held on Thursday, August 20th, at Benevola United Methodist Church in Boonsboro, Maryland at 3pm. Dee will be cremated in accordance with her wishes.
Though Dee will be deeply missed, her family takes comfort in the countless memories she created, the wisdom she shared, and the love she freely gave. Her gentle spirit, steadfast faith, and unique gift for seeing the good in others will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
“Aren’t we blessed?”
