Remembering Maj. Jenrette

Lyman Ward honors death of 1990 graduate, president’s son

By Laura Johnson | Dadeville Record

Published Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The bagpipes played a slow solemn tune at Lyman Ward Military Academy Sunday during a memorial service for Maj. Kevin Jenrette.

Jenrette, the son of academy president retired Col. Albert W. Jenrette and a 1990 graduate of Lyman Ward, was deployed to his first tour of duty on April 2 and killed in action just one month later while fighting with the Georgia National Guard.

“The memorial service was to honor the memory of one of our own,” academic dean Jeff Damron said. “It was almost like a homecoming of sorts for the school because a lot of people who had a connection with the school showed up.”

The commanding general of the Georgia National Guard arrived in a black hawk helicopter and students, alumni, faculty and family attended the service. In addition, Patriot Riders, a motorcycle group who attend funerals of fallen servicemen, stood in the at the service, each holding an American flag to honor the fallen soldier’s memory.

One by one, some of those who knew him best told stories about the man who they knew for his strength and his love for people.

“It was a good overview of his life from his junior high days on through his adulthood,” Damron said of the service. “We were all hopeful our boss would find this meaningful and that it would help him deal with something that must be very painful.”

After graduating Lyman Ward in 1990, Maj. Jenrette went on to attend North Georgia College and State University where he majored in business. After completing his degree, Maj. Jenrette joined the military and became an Army Ranger.

He, his college roommates and fraternity brothers, Roger Nixon, Tombo Jones and Mike Ivy, also went through training to become officers in the Army.

“We were all very tight. You can’t talk about one without talking about all of us,” Nixon said. “Kevin was one who constantly gave more of himself to help other people than to help himself and that’s (ultimately) what he did with his life.”

Maj. Jenrette was known by his family as someone who was tough but compassionate and defined by his belief in Jesus Christ. It was those characteristics, paired with his faith, that helped him develop strong relationships with people throughout his life, his father, Col. Jenrette, said.

“(He was) very tough, courageous, but with a big heart and a lot of compassion,” his father said. “I was very proud and remain very proud of him, his service and his sacrifice. He was a much better person and a much better soldier than I am.”

Maj. Kevin Jenrette was a husband and father. His wife, Shannon, and his three children, Corey, 7; Brody, 5; and Megan, 1, survived him. They now live in Lula, Ga.

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