Dr. Morris Little Jenkins

Dr. Morris Jenkins, a revered family physician, husband, father, grandfather, and neighbor, passed away at age 74 on February 25, 2026, in Brevard, NC. He is survived by Molly, his wife of 49 years, daughter Beth Baughman (Tim) of Atlanta, GA, son Hal Jenkins (Julia) of Raleigh, NC, five grandchildren (Henry and Piper Baughman, Arthur, Julia, and Thomas Jenkins), and his brother, Frank Jenkins, of Cartersville, GA.

Dr. Jenkins was born on May 26, 1951, in Atlanta, to Frank E. Jenkins, Jr. and Polly Little Jenkins. He followed in the footsteps of many Jenkins family members by attending Emory University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry in 1973, followed by a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1977. After completing his medical degree, he undertook a Family Medicine residency at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, SC. This residency marked the beginning of his dedicated career as a family physician, fulfilling his true calling from a young age to serve people in the medical field. After residency, Morris established Owasa Family Medicine, a solo family practice in Calhoun, Georgia, in 1980. The practice eventually grew to six physicians who served the families of Gordon County. Morris was the kind of caring and devoted small-town doctor who listed his home number in the phone book and would think nothing of dropping by for a house call. He was a pillar of the medical community in Calhoun, serving on the Board of Health and the Gordon Hospital Board. Morris saw his patients as more than just patients, and he had a reputation for being a caring, capable, and kind physician. He was a great lover of history and especially enjoyed listening to the life stories his patients shared. Morris and Molly lived in Calhoun for 28 years.

In 2000, Morris and Molly purchased a getaway cottage in Lake Toxaway, NC, and quickly fell in love with the mountains. They decided to move full-time to Brevard in 2008. Shortly after, they spent seven months in Christchurch, New Zealand, where Morris worked as a General Practitioner, and they both explored the Southern Hemisphere. Upon returning to Brevard, Morris resumed his work as a family physician at Medical Associates of Transylvania in 2009. He retired from this position in 2015, but his medical career did not end there. Morris then took on the role of a hospice physician for Care Partners Transylvania Hospice and Palliative Care, a position he later described as “a wonderful capstone to my career.” He took great pride in guiding patients and their families through the challenges of end-of-life care. He was honored to serve during the initial year of the COVID pandemic. He retired for the final time in 2021.

Morris was deeply engaged in the Brevard community. He served on the board of the Transylvania County Library Foundation and eventually became its chairman, a role that filled him with great pride. Additionally, he served on the boards of both the Muddy Sneakers Outdoor Educational Initiative and SparkPoint. Morris and Molly were frequently spotted walking and hiking together. Besides these activities, Morris was passionate about road bicycling and played the upright bass for three decades. As for how he wanted to be recalled by family, friends, and patients, he said shortly before his passing, “I’d like to be remembered as being kind. Like it or not, we are all in this life's journey together, so enjoy the ride!”

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Dr. Jenkins' name to the Transylvania County Library Foundation or Sharing House Brevard. 

A celebration of life for family and friends will be scheduled at a later date.