Carol Jenkins Barnett

{{Short description|American philanthropist and businesswoman (1956–2021)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Carol Jenkins Barnett

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|9|30}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|12|7|1956|9|30}}

| birth_place = Lakeland, Florida, U.S.

| death_place = Lakeland, Florida, U.S.

| education = Emory University
Florida Southern College

| alma_mater =

| occupation = Businesswoman and philanthropist

| spouse = Barney Barnett

| children = 2

| father = George W. Jenkins

| relatives = Howard Jenkins (brother)

| website =

}}

Carol Jenkins Barnett (September 30, 1956 – December 7, 2021) was an American philanthropist and businesswoman, the daughter of George W. Jenkins, the founder of Publix Super Markets. Jenkins Barnett was president of Publix Super Markets Charities and as a member of the board of directors of Publix Super Markets.{{cite web|last1=Griffin|first1=Justine|title=Carol Jenkins Barnett to step down from Publix board due to Alzheimer's diagnosis|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/carol-jenkins-barnett-to-step-down-from-publix-board-due-to-alzheimers/2282447|publisher=Tampa Bay Times|accessdate=May 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507071028/http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/carol-jenkins-barnett-to-step-down-from-publix-board-due-to-alzheimers/2282447|archive-date=May 7, 2017|url-status=dead}} She had been included in a Forbes list of The World's Billionaires every year from 2008 on.

Early life

Carol Jenkins was the daughter of Anne MacGregor and George W. Jenkins.{{cite news|title=George Jenkins, 88, Founder Of $9 Billion Grocery Chain|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/10/us/george-jenkins-88-founder-of-9-billion-grocery-chain.html|work=New York Times|date=April 10, 1996|accessdate=May 3, 2017}} Jenkins Barnett is one of six children: Howard, David, Julie, Nancy and Kenneth. Barnett attended Emory University but later transferred to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida.{{cite web|last1=Parvin|first1=Paige|title=We Knew Them When|url=http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/issues/2013/winter/features/nongraduate.html|publisher=Emory Magazine|accessdate=May 3, 2017|archive-date=October 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011024257/http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/issues/2013/winter/features/nongraduate.html|url-status=dead}}

Carol Barnett's father, George W. Jenkins, founded Publix Super Markets. Carol was born in 1956 when Publix was in its heyday. Carol and her five siblings worked at Publix beginning at the age of sixteen.{{cite web|last1=McTaggart|first1=Jenny|title=The Publix family has much to celebrate on the 100th anniversary of the birth of founder George Jenkins|url=http://www.progressivegrocer.com/cover-story-lakeland-legacy?nopaging=1|publisher=Progressive Grocer|accessdate=May 4, 2017}} She said: "The way I grew up, everything was about Publix. We'd go to store openings. I remember attending the 100th store opening when I was eight. I was there for the glory years."

Business career

File:Publix surfside fl.jpg]]

=Board of directors=

Jenkins Barnett was a member of the Publix board of directors from 1983 to 2016. During her time at Publix, the company grew into the largest supermarket chain in Florida, expanded into five other states, and recorded $32.5 billion in sales in 2015.

=Publix Charities=

Publix Super Markets Charities strives to provide the communities it serves with funding for housing with Habitat for Humanity.{{Cite news|url=http://publixcharities.org/hope/|title=Hands build houses. Hope builds homes. – Publix Super Markets Charities|date=November 9, 2017|work=Publix Super Markets Charities|access-date=April 2, 2018|language=en-US}} The charity also supports other causes such as food assistance, education, and youth programs. Between 1991 and 2016, Jenkins Barnett was president of Publix Super Market Charities. Jenkins Barnett helped lead the organization to donate $25 million to nonprofit organizations each year. She helped lead the organization to donate over $10 million to Habitat for Humanity.{{cite web|last1=Pera|first1=Eric|title=Publix Charities supporting 60 new homes nationwide through Habitat for Humanity|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20161206/publix-charities-supporting-60-new-homes-nationwide-through-habitat-for-humanity|publisher=The Ledger|accessdate=May 4, 2017}}

Philanthropy

File:Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women & Kids off FL 33.jpg

In 2011, Florida Southern College announced an undisclosed contribution from Jenkins Barnett in honor of her husband, Barney Barnett, a graduate of Florida Southern. The funds were used to establish the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise.{{cite web|last1=Skeates|first1=Cory|title=FSC Establishes Barney Barnett School of Business and Economics|url=http://blog.lakelandchamber.com/2011/04/fsc-establishes-barney-barnett-school-of-business-and-economics/|publisher=Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce|accessdate=May 4, 2017}} The Barnetts also gave a reported $10 million to Florida Southern College to establish the Barnett Residential Life Center that was designed by Robert A. M. Stern.{{cite web|last1=White|first1=Gary|title=New Luxury Dorm Keeps With Design Standards|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20090811/new-luxury-dorm-keeps-with-design-standards|publisher=The Ledger|accessdate=May 4, 2017}}

In 2012, the Barnetts were the primary donors in a funding drive for the construction of a $5.5 million, 18-classroom learning facility at All Saints' Academy in Winter Haven, Florida. They gave $1 million to help launch the Carol J. and Barney Barnett Learning Center, which opened in 2014 at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa. To promote environmental conservation, the Barnetts donated $3 million to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida in 2015.{{cite web|title=Editorial: Wishing the best for Carol Barnett|url=http://www.theledger.com/opinion/20160618/editorial-wishing-the-best-for-carol-barnett|publisher=The Ledger|accessdate=May 4, 2017}} The Barnetts have donated millions of dollars to the United Way.

In 2016, the Lakeland Regional Health Foundation received a donation from the Barnett family in honor of Carol Jenkins Barnett for the Pavilion for Women and Children at the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center Campus. The gift was the largest donation received to date by the Foundation. The new building was named the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children.{{cite web|title=LRH Pavilion for Women and Children Named to Honor Carol Jenkins Barnett|date=May 6, 2016|url=https://mylrh.org/news/lrh-pavilion-for-women-and-children-named-to-honor-carol-jenkins-barnett/|accessdate=May 4, 2017}}

Also in 2016, the Barnetts gave $800,000 to the Drug Free Florida Committee, an organization leading opposition to Amendment 2 to the Constitution of the State of Florida, which legalized marijuana for medical use in Florida.{{cite web|title=Prominent Polk resident Carol Jenkins Barnett donates $800,000 to anti-pot drive through family trust|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20160725/prominent-polk-resident-carol-jenkins-barnett-donates-800000-to-anti-pot-drive-through-family-trust|publisher=The Ledger|accessdate=April 11, 2018}}

Personal life and death

Barnett had two sons with her husband, Barney Barnett.{{Cite web|last=White|first=Gary|title=Philanthropist, Publix heiress Carol Jenkins Barnett dies at 65|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2021/12/08/philanthropist-publix-heiress-carol-jenkins-barnett-dies-65/6431461001/|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=The Ledger|language=en-US}}

In 2016, Barnett was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She died from complications of the disease on December 7, 2021, at the age of 65.

Awards and recognition

In 2004, Barnett was presented with the Florida Arts Recognition Award by the Secretary of State of Florida to honor people who support art and culture in Florida. She contributed to many Florida arts organizations, including the Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland Symphony Orchestra and Straz Center for the Performing Arts.{{cite web|last1=Mahoney|first1=Rebecca|title=Local Philanthropist to be Honored with State Award|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20040511/local-philanthropist-to-be-honored-with-state-award|publisher=The Ledger|accessdate=June 3, 2017}}

In 2015, Barnett received the Women in Philanthropy award, a national honor bestowed by the United Way Women's Leadership Council for her work developing a number of early childhood initiatives, including the ReadingPals literacy program that spread throughout Florida.{{cite web|last1=Para|first1=Eric|title=Philanthropy: Carol Barnett Receives Award|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20150204/philanthropy-carol-barnett-receives-award|publisher=The Ledger|accessdate=May 4, 2017}} In 2016, Jenkins Barnett was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.{{cite news|last1=Ceballos|first1=John|title=Carol Jenkins Barnett honored for charity work with induction into Florida Women's Hall of Fame|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20160129/news/160129363|accessdate=February 3, 2016|work=January 29, 2016|agency=The Ledger}}{{cite web|title=Carol Jenkins Barnett|url=http://fcsw.net/dt_team/carol-jenkins-barnett/|publisher=FCSW|accessdate=February 1, 2016|archive-date=March 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314050119/http://fcsw.net/dt_team/carol-jenkins-barnett/|url-status=dead}}

In 2017, Barnett received the Chiles Advocacy Award, Florida's highest honor for serving its children.{{cite web|last1=Neal|first1=David|title=Former Publix board member to receive the state's top honor for helping children|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article140752028.html|publisher=Miami Herald|accessdate=May 3, 2017}} The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy presented Barnett with its “Champion for Literacy” award.{{cite web|last1=Fantozzi|first1=Madison|title=Barbara Bush Foundation honors Carol Jenkins Barnett for supporting education|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20170220/barbara-bush-foundation-honors-carol-jenkins-barnett-for-supporting-education|publisher=The Ledger|accessdate=May 3, 2017}} The Barnetts announced plans to introduce the largest park in Lakeland, Florida.{{cite web|last1=Guinn|first1=Christopher|title=Barnetts to introduce vast urban park in Lakeland|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20170206/barnetts-to-introduce-vast-urban-park-in-lakeland|publisher=The Ledger|accessdate=May 4, 2017}} Jenkins Barnett has served on the steering committee for The Children's Movement of Florida.{{Cite web|title=Carol Jenkins Barnett|url=https://www.childrensmovementflorida.org/about-us/leadership/carol-jenkins-barnett/|access-date=December 10, 2021|website=The Children's Movement of Florida|language=en-US}}

Barnett was named a notable member of the Association of Junior Leagues International, an honor given to only 18 women since the association's founding in 1901.{{cite web|last1=Pera|first1=Eric|title=Jenkins Barnett joins notable list of Junior Leagues members|url=http://www.theledger.com/news/20170523/jenkins-barnett-joins-notable-list-of-junior-leagues-members|publisher=The Ledger|accessdate=June 3, 2017}}

References

External links

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwBL-nVUX7c 2016 Florida Women's Hall of Fame Inductee Carol Jenkins Barnett of Lakeland] via YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGqZfREyHeo United Way of Miami-Dade ReadingPals: Carol and Barney Barnett] via YouTube

Category:1956 births

Category:2021 deaths

Category:20th-century American businesspeople

Category:20th-century American businesswomen

Category:20th-century American philanthropists

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:21st-century American businesswomen

Category:21st-century American philanthropists

Category:American billionaires

Category:American businesspeople in retailing

Category:American grocers

Category:Businesspeople from Florida