From around the state and beyond, the tributes began to roll in last Monday for Ella Jenkins. A standout for the Lady Greyhounds on the softball field who was starting her collegiate career at Brewton-Parker College, Jenkins died last Sunday evening.
Softball was a major part of Jenkins’ life, and many of her former Jones County teammates were immersed in something very special to Jenkins last Monday and Tuesday — playing softball. A 2026 JCHS graduate, Jenkins was teammates with the current sophomores, juniors, and seniors on the Lady Hounds’ roster.
“She came out every day and was lighthearted and happy,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Tripp Burt said. “She could get along with anybody.”
Before Tuesday’s game against Warner Robins, Jenkins’ family was presented with a framed jersey. A static graphic of Jenkins was displayed on the softball field’s scoreboard during Tuesday’s contest, and her No. 6 that she wore as a Lady Hound was also displayed as an on-field logo near home plate.
The Lady Greyhounds also wore orange and blue ribbons last week, the same colors of Brewton-Parker, who had multiple players on hand at Tuesday’s pre-game events.
“It’s been an emotional week for us. Our girls have done a good job of doing their best to fight through the emotions and trying to honor her a little bit,” Burt said. “We’ve got girls that played three years of high school ball with her and travel ball with her.”
The tributes to Jenkins came in, thanks to the power social media last week. Those ranged from Brewton-Parker, multiple travel softball organizations, and even USC Upstate’s softball program.
But they came from within Jones County, too, some from those who knew her as a Lady Greyhound teammate.
Cate Downey was among them. Both were part of last year’s JCHS softball senior class with the two playing together before that, going back to their travel ball days.
“She was someone who was just always upbeat. Even in a game when something would go wrong, she was someone who would come to pitcher’s mound and always talk to me,” Downey said. “I felt like she was always one of my biggest cheerleaders.”
But as Downey recalls, she was also what could be described as a consummate teammate.
“When we were younger, she caught me in travel ball and a bat hit her thumb, and she never caught me again,” Downey said. “But on weekends, if I needed help, she would go catch me and always help me out.”
