Kathleen Jennings

Kathleen Francis Jennings died September 25, 2026, in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, one day after her 97th birthday.

Kathleen lived those 97 years much the way she approached most things: at her own pace, grateful for what she had, and remarkably good at enjoying the moment she was in. She had a quiet faith, an encouraging nature, a wonderful sense of humor, and a gift for finding something positive in whatever life brought her.

Kathleen was born September 24, 1929, in Galax, Virginia, to Webb and Litha Collins. She grew up on a small farm in Delhart, where her family also ran the general store that served as the heart of the little community. The youngest of four children, she lost two brothers when they were young and her older brother, Randolph Collins, at only 43. She graduated from Galax High School alongside her lifelong best friend, Virginia Carr.

On New Year's Eve 1948, Kathleen married Ben H. Jennings of Fries, Virginia, in High Point, North Carolina. It was a double wedding: Ben's brother, Allen Jennings, married Kathleen Byrd in the same ceremony. The day produced a family story told for years—Ben, serving as Allen's best man, nearly lost the wedding ring. Fortunately, the ring was found, both couples were married, and Kathleen and Ben went on to share 58 years together before his death at age 91.

The young couple left Virginia for Detroit, where they made their home and raised their only son, Michael, born in 1958. Kathleen brought an easy sense of order to everyday life, worked part-time in payroll for Kelly Services, and was a mother who encouraged and always found the positive side of things. Detroit became home, but Virginia never really stopped being home either, and Kathleen and Ben returned often to visit family and friends.

In 1987, they moved to nearby Roseville, Michigan. After Ben's death, Kathleen remained in their home and lived independently there until 2024. She drove until she was 89, enjoyed hunting for a bargain, and especially enjoyed bus trips with friends across the river to Windsor.

Kathleen and Ben also enjoyed trips to Las Vegas when they were younger, and in later years Windsor remained a favorite outing with friends. True to her thrifty nature, Kathleen bought her greeting cards at the dollar store, knew a good bargain when she saw one, and when she tried her luck at the casino, the penny machines suited her just fine.

Her greatest joy, though, was her family. Kathleen's family began with one son and grew across the generations. She was Mom to Michael, Grandma to Ryan, Melissa and Lindsey, and eventually Gigi to Emilia, Ziggy, Blake, Izzy, Anna, Louie and Charlie. The close family circle she loved included: Andrea Lankford, Loretta Wisniewski, Pam Jennings, Jess Jennings, Mark Wojda, John Ganz,

Kathleen remained deeply connected to her Virginia roots throughout her life. She shared a lifelong friendship with her cousin Francis Chappel and her husband, and treasured summer visits with them. She was a much-loved aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews, including her brother Randolph's daughters, Deborah Britton and the late Cindy Collins. No matter how many years she lived away, Virginia and the people she loved there remained an important part of her life.

In 2024, Kathleen left the Roseville home she had known for nearly four decades and moved to Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, to be near Michael and family.

Kathleen's faith was strong but quiet, expressed more in the way she lived than in words. It was a steady presence throughout her life and part of the optimism and gratitude with which she met each day.

One of Kathleen's gifts was that she was content. She could find immense pleasure in something as simple as sitting on the porch, enjoying the moment simply for what it was. She encouraged the people she loved, enjoyed what she had, and took life as it came.

Kathleen began life as a girl on a small Virginia farm and lived long enough to see her family stretch across four generations. Something of her now lives forward in each of them—in one son, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren who knew her simply as Mom, Grandma and Gigi.

After a life that took her from Virginia to Detroit, Roseville and Tennessee, Kathleen will come home to Galax.

Visitation will be held September 29, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home in Galax, Virginia, followed by a chapel service at noon. Kathleen will be laid to rest beside Ben at Felts Cemetery in Galax.