He was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Everett and Gracie Dyson; paternal grandparents, Doug and Geneva Jenkins; two uncles, Steve Dyson and Bob Hopkins; and his older brother, Joshua, who passed away just five years ago this month.
Matt grew up in Lashmeet and graduated from PikeView High School in 1999 and Wytheville Community College in 2005. Matt spent most of his working life in the service industry in both front and back-office positions. He was an extremely avid fan of the Atlanta Braves, Washington Redskins and the WVU football and basketball programs. He was an expert on the history of the players, team drafts and recruiting and if necessary, he would tell you so! Matt had a unique way of relating to children and no matter where he was, you could be sure all the kids would flock around him. He also had a special way of connecting to the elderly making them all feel much younger with him around. At the age of 26, Matt gave up a management position in a Dublin, VA hotel to return to West Virginia to provide live-in care for his aging maternal grandparents. Sharing a “birthday bond” with Papaw Dyson, he never felt it was a sacrifice at all but instead, the most significant thing he ever did. As a teenager, Matt participated in church activities frequently competing in Christian talent programs and Bible Quizzing activities having once been awarded a trophy for National High Scorer. As an adult, Matt maintained a strong faith in Christ even though his journey with Jesus didn’t always include the front door of a church building. After his brother died in 2016, Matt devoted his efforts to fill any gaps and voids in the lives of his parents and they will surely miss his presence.
In addition to his parents, Matt is survived by a host of uncles, aunts and cousins who loved him and will greatly miss him.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 11, 2021 at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton, with his father and Pastor Michael Barnette officiating.
A graveside service will be at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, June 12, 2021 at the Appalachian Conference Cemetery, 5847 Oak Grove Ave., Dublin, VA. Friends attending the service are asked to meet at the cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday, June 11, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until service hour at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. To view a video tribute to Mr. Jenkins, or share condolences with the family, please visit www.bailey-kirk.com.
Please check back here after 7:00 p.m. on Friday to view a video memorial tribute to Mr. Jenkins.
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