Carol Jenkins Barnett
Carol Jenkins Barnett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 September 1956 |
| Died | 7 December 2021 (aged 65) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | President of Publix Super Markets Charities, director on Publix board |
Carol Jenkins Barnett (September 30, 1956 – December 7, 2021) was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, recognized as the daughter of Publix Super Markets founder George W. Jenkins. She held the position of president at Publix Super Markets Charities and was a director on the grocery chain's board. From 2008 onwards, Jenkins Barnett consistently appeared on the Forbes list of The World's Billionaires.
Early life
Carol Jenkins was born to Anne MacGregor and George W. Jenkins, the founder of Publix Super Markets.[1] She grew up alongside five siblings: Howard, David, Julie, Nancy, and Kenneth.[1] Her higher education began at Emory University, after which she transferred to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida.[2]
Born during a period of expansion for Publix in 1956, Barnett and her siblings started working for the company at age sixteen.[3] She reflected on her upbringing: "Everything revolved around Publix. We attended store openings regularly. I remember being at the 100th store opening when I was eight. Those were the glory years."[3]
Board of directors
Jenkins Barnett was a member of the Publix board from 1983 until 2016. Throughout her service, Publix grew to become Florida's leading supermarket chain, extended its operations into five more states, and reached $32.5 billion in sales by 2015.
Publix Charities
Publix Super Markets Charities is dedicated to supporting communities through initiatives such as housing projects with Habitat for Humanity, food security programs, education, and youth development. Jenkins Barnett led the charity as president from 1991 to 2016, managing annual contributions of $25 million to various nonprofits and directing over $10 million specifically towards Habitat for Humanity.
Philanthropy
In 2011, Jenkins Barnett honored her husband Barney Barnett—a Florida Southern College alumnus—with a substantial donation that established the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise. The couple also contributed roughly $10 million to create the Barnett Residential Life Center, designed by architect Robert A. M. Stern.
The following year, they served as principal benefactors for a $5.5 million classroom building at All Saints' Academy in Winter Haven. Additionally, they provided $1 million to inaugurate the Carol J. and Barney Barnett Learning Center at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, which opened in 2014. In 2015, their $3 million gift supported environmental conservation efforts at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota. The Barnetts have also been major donors to United Way.
In 2016, the Lakeland Regional Health Foundation accepted its largest ever gift from the Barnett family, leading to the naming of the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
That same year, the Barnetts contributed $800,000 to the Drug Free Florida Committee opposing Amendment 2 (2016), which aimed to legalize medical marijuana in Florida.
Personal life and death
Barnett and her husband, Barney Barnett, were parents to two sons.
She was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in 2016 and passed away due to complications related to the condition on December 7, 2021, at the age of 65.
Awards and recognition
In 2004, Barnett was honored with the Florida Arts Recognition Award for her dedication to promoting arts and culture, supporting institutions such as the Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland Symphony Orchestra, and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
The United Way Women's Leadership Council presented her with the Women in Philanthropy award in 2015 in acknowledgment of her efforts to advance early childhood programs, notably the statewide literacy initiative ReadingPals. The following year, she was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.
Barnett received Florida’s premier child advocacy accolade, the Chiles Advocacy Award, in 2017. She was also recognized as a “Champion for Literacy” by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Alongside her husband, she revealed plans to develop Lakeland’s largest urban park. Additionally, she participated on the steering committee for The Children's Movement of Florida.
Moreover, Barnett was distinguished as a prominent member of the Association of Junior Leagues International—an exclusive recognition granted to only 18 women since its establishment in 1901.