Jenkins Street Crayton, Jr. (Jenks) 55, of Greensboro, North Carolina, died peacefully in his home on Friday, September 15, 2017. Jenks was born August 1, 1962 in Charleston, South Carolina, where he started school at The Louise Hanahan Little School. At age six, his family moved to Columbia. His father, Jenkins S. Crayton, a Senior Vice President of the Citizens and Southern Bank, died in 1972 when Jenks was ten years old.
Jenks graduated from Hammond School in Columbia where he served as Vice President of the
Student Council and as president of PISGA, a state-wide student government organization. Outside of school, he served as an acolyte and sang in the choir at his church, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. He graduated from Furman University of Greenville, South Carolina, with a major in Economics and Business Administration with supporting courses in computer science, accounting and finance.
He was married for many years to Katherine Kendall Johnson.
Jenks began his career as Senior Analyst for Styron & Associates in Statesville, North Carolina. He then moved to Greensboro, North Carolina where he joined the staff of Guilford County. He rose in position and was appointed Tax Director of Guilford County which includes offices in Greensboro and High Point. He was instrumental in designing and implementing new systems to make the process of assessing and collecting taxes more efficient. He participated in many community efforts including being a member of the Rotary Club of Greensboro.
He is survived by his parents, Betty Goldsmith Crayton Murdaugh and Dr. Victor
Murdaugh (Vick) and by his brother, William Goldsmith Crayton (Bill), all of Columbia. In addition, he is survived by his stepsisters, Dr. Elizabeth Whaley Murdaugh (Dr. Quay Snyder) and Anne Wycliffe Murdaugh (JB Holston) and their children: Dane Snyder, Sara Snyder, Benjamin Holston and Lianna Holston.
Jenks family and friends will remember him as a loyal, bright, hardworking young man who was diligent, dependable, honest and a loyal good friend. When time permitted, he enjoyed water sports, hiking, camping, bicycling and repairing antique clocks.
The relatives and friends of Jenks and his family are invited to attend a memorial service planned for Friday, the 29th of September at 1:00pm at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia. The family will receive friends at a reception immediately following the service. The graveside service will be private. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Cathedral Foundation, 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia, S.C.
29201; or St. John in the Wilderness, PO Box 185, Flat Rock, N. C. 28731; or to the charity of your choice.