Dr. Morris Jenkins, a longtime family physician who founded OWASA Family Medicine in Calhoun in the early 1980s, has passed away at the age of 74.
A respected and beloved physician, Dr. Jenkins devoted decades to caring for families in Gordon County and beyond. Most recently a resident of Brevard, North Carolina, he was known not only for his medical expertise but also for his compassion and deep commitment to his patients and community.
Born May 26, 1951, in Atlanta to Frank E. Jenkins Jr. and Polly Little Jenkins, Dr. Jenkins attended Emory University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry in 1973 and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1977. He completed his Family Medicine residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
In 1980, he established OWASA Family Medicine as a solo practice in Calhoun. Over time, the practice grew to include six physicians serving families throughout Gordon County. Dr. Jenkins was widely regarded as the quintessential small-town doctor — listing his home phone number in the phone book and making house calls when needed. He served on the Gordon County Board of Health and the Gordon Hospital Board and was known for treating patients as friends and neighbors.
Dr. Jenkins and his wife, Molly, lived in Calhoun for 28 years before purchasing a cottage in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, in 2000. The couple relocated full-time to Brevard in 2008. Soon after, they spent seven months in Christchurch, New Zealand, where Dr. Jenkins practiced as a general practitioner while the couple explored the region.
Returning to North Carolina in 2009, Dr. Jenkins joined Medical Associates of Transylvania, where he practiced until retiring in 2015. He later served as a hospice physician with Care Partners Transylvania Hospice and Palliative Care, calling the role “a wonderful capstone to my career.” He was especially honored to serve patients and families during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. He retired fully in 2021.
Dr. Jenkins is survived by his wife of 49 years, Molly; daughter Beth Baughman (Tim) of Atlanta; son Hal Jenkins (Julia) of Raleigh; five grandchildren, Henry and Piper Baughman and Arthur, Julia, and Thomas Jenkins; and his brother, Frank Jenkins of Cartersville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Transylvania County Library Foundation or Sharing House Brevard.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Moore-Blanchard Funerals & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.