Raymond Floyd Atkins

Raymond Floyd Atkins, of Greenville, was born on June 28, 1950 in Monroe County, raised in Perdue Hill and went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Fri., Jan. 16, 2015, at the age of 64. Floyd graduated from Monroe County High School and Troy University with a degree in accounting. He proudly served his country in the United States Army and Army Reserve for 31 years. He retired as a Sergeant Major in November of 2004. He was a member of the Alabama Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and was a valuable member working with employers, Guard and Reserve personnel to make each feel they were valuable contributors to the efforts to keep our country free. Floyd also retired in 2000 from the Alabama Department of Revenue after 27 years where he served as Assistant Director of the Sales, Use & Business Tax Division. He then opened his own business in 2000, Atkins & Associates, where he and his staff did audits for Cities and Counties. In 2010, he began working with RDS (Revenue Discovery Systems) out of Birmingham. God truly blessed him with jobs and co-workers that he loved. Faith in God was central to Floyd as he began his walk with Him at an early age at Barbara Locklin Baptist Church in his hometown of Perdue Hill, Alabama and also as an active member of Southside Baptist Church in Greenville, Alabama for the past 35 years. At Southside, he was a member and chairman of many committees, loved the children as he taught 3rd grade Sunday School Class and helped with VBS for many years…but, his most rewarding service to the Lord was when he became a deacon. He was dedicated to sharing God’s love through helping other people. He was a mentor to young athletes as he coached baseball, from T-Ball to Dixie Youth with the City of Greenville and also Wrestling at Greenville Academy. He began his membership in the Masonic Lodge in Brewton, Alabama in l972 and joined Eureka Lodge #64 when he moved to Greenville in 1979. He became Worshipful Master with that Lodge. Floyd is predeceased by his parents, Tally and Susan Atkins, granddaughter Mary Cameron Atkins and brother-in-law, Terry Blackwell. He leaves his cherished memories to his loving wife of 44 years, Sara Jean Mixon Atkins; their children, Michael Atkins, (Brooke Thorington) of Auburn, Alabama and Jeffrey (Kim) Atkins of Montgomery, Alabama; sister, Irene (Ed) Daughtery of Jay, Florida; sister-in-law, Ann Blackwell of Greenville, Alabama, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. He was “Poppy” to his grandchildren, Hannah & Davis and will forever be remembered by them as fun, loving and entertaining. A Celebration of Life will be held at Southside Baptist Church on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 2:00 p.m with Bro. Herbert Brown and Bro. Mason Halacker officiating. The family will receive friends at Southside Baptist Church on Saturday, January 17 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and also one hour prior to the service. Burial with United States Military Honors will follow at Asbury Methodist Church Cemetery in Old Texas, Alabama with Dunklin and Daniels of Greenville, Alabama directing. His High School Classmates, Jack Rasco and Ronnie Blanton from Monroeville, Alabama will lead the procession on motorcycles with American flags flying. Pallbearers will be members of the Armed Forces Honor Guard. Honorary Pallbearers will be Southside Baptist Church Deacons, his Sunday School Class members from Steve Townes’ Class, Larry Norton, Sam Winters, Gene Bender, Paul Salter, John Stephens, Dennis Taylor & John Burgess. The family would like to thank Dr. Harry Barnes and staff at Montgomery Cancer Center for the wonderful care they have provided Floyd, as well as Southern Care Hospice and staff, their many Prayer Warriors for their love and prayers over the past eighteen months, their Southside Family, friends and neighbors on Shannon Hill Road, as well as their friends at Dunklin Daniels Funeral Home. Also, special thanks to Dee Wilson for all of her help. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Southside Baptist Church, 211 King Street, Greenville, Alabama 36037 or Asbury Methodist Cemetery Fund. c/o Ann Blackwell, 1879 Holly Hill Road, Greenville, Alabama 36037 Floyd was dearly loved by many and will be greatly missed.