The Spanish Fort community is mourning a popular middle school teacher killed in a crash last week, while the girls’ basketball coach injured alongside him recovers at an Atlanta rehabilitation hospital.
Devery Jenkins, a history teacher at Spanish Fort Middle School, died after a four-car pile-up in Saraland on June 30, according to a post from the school. Maurice “Mo” Mitchell, the middle school’s head girls’ basketball coach, was also injured in the wreck and has been transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation.
A community rallies
An outpouring of support followed the crash, with more than $24,000 raised for the Jenkins family on GoFundMe within days. Students, parents and colleagues have filled the school’s social media pages with tributes to a teacher many simply called “Mr. Jenkins.”
“He was a steady presence, a compassionate heart, and a source of encouragement for everyone fortunate enough to know and love him,” the school stated. “Every day, he poured into his students, helping them grow academically and personally.”
From the Marines to the classroom
Jenkins took an unusual road to teaching. He served two tours in Iraq and a Marine Expeditionary Unit deployment to Lebanon, receiving numerous medals for combat action during his service from 2003 to 2007 before being honorably discharged, according to his obituary.
After the military, he worked in petroleum refining for Chevron in Pascagoula and on offshore platforms off South Louisiana before returning to school. He earned a double bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from the University of South Alabama, moved to Spanish Fort in 2020, and joined the middle school faculty.
At Spanish Fort Middle, Jenkins taught eighth-grade history and became known for helping across the building, pitching in with debate, science and choir. Students praised his love of history and his knack for making it feel immediate and personal.
“He quickly became everyone’s favorite at SFMS and a trusted adult on our campus,” the school wrote. “The lessons he taught extended far beyond the classroom. He taught kindness, self control, perseverance, compassion, and the importance of making every day count.”
A school and city grieve together
Counselors and support staff have been made available to students coping with the loss, and the school says it will carry his memory forward in its daily life.
“Though he is no longer with us, his impact will forever remain woven into the fabric of Spanish Fort Middle School,” the school stated. “He will always be remembered, always be missed, and always be a cherished part of our Toro family. He was the Toro Way!”
The GoFundMe established for the Jenkins family continues to accept donations to help with funeral expenses and the family’s needs. The Mitchell family has not released details on his condition or expected length of rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center, which specializes in care for patients recovering from serious injuries.
Details of the crash itself have not been released by investigators. The Spanish Fort community, meanwhile, has rallied around two of its own, donating, sharing memories and supporting the students who knew Jenkins best.