Morgan County GaArchives Obituaries.....Atkinson, William Jackson February 11, 1995
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Ken Doggett kendoggett2000@yahoo.com April 29, 2008, 11:05 am

The Madisonian, 16 Feb. 1995
William Jackson Atkinson, 72, died February, 1995 at Culver Kidd Hospital in 
Milledgeville.  Mr. Atkinson, one of Madison's most popular citizens, had been 
ill and hospitalized for the past year.

  Mr. Atkinson, who was known as Bill to his many friends, was a native of 
Madison who lived most of his life in the North Main and College Avenue 
section of Madison.  He was born February 22, 1922, the son of the late Butler 
Marham Atkinson and the late Mae Morgan Atkinson, both members of prominent 
Morgan County families.  His father owned Atkinson's Pharmacy in downtown 
Madison and his mother was well known in social and civic circles.  He 
attended Madison schools and was graduated from Madison High School.  He also 
attended McCalle School in Chattanooga and the University of Georgia, where he 
was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity.  He served in the United States Marine 
Corp. during World War II where he saw active duty in the Pacific Theater.  A 
member of the Marine Corp. Reserve, he was called back to active duty during 
the Korean War.

  He married the former Doris Saye in 1947 and they resided in Madison all of 
their married years except for the time he served with the Marines in the 
Korean War.  Following the war, he worked with the State Department of Natural 
Resources and when Wellington Industries came to Madison he was named 
Personnel Director.  He later operated the downtown Wellington Outlet Store.  
He was a member of Madison City Council for 30 years, serving part of that 
time as Vice Mayor.  He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 
American Legion, Madison-Morgan Cultural Center and Madison Presbyterian 
Church.  He served a term on the Madison Historic Preservation Commission.

  A history buff, he had been active as a child as a member of the Children of 
the American Revolution, and when his son was small organized a group of young 
people for a club, "Searchers of the Past," and taught them about the history 
of their area, and fostered a love of cemeteries and the records they hold.  
He did extensive research on Morgan County cemeteries and recently the Bank of 
Madison published a brochure of a part of his research in Madison.  He was one 
of the founders and charter members of the Morgan County Historical Society, 
serving as an early president.  He was invited to speak to various groups in 
and around the county concerning his cemetary research and his knowledge of 
the county.

  Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson were delightful company and were sought out by their 
wide number of friends.  They were active in a number of civic and social 
clubs.  They had one son, Dr. George Saye Atkinson of New Orleans.  Mr. 
Atkinson had two brothers, Mr. Butler M. Atkinson Jr. who died in 1994 and 
Morgan Atkinson who died as a young boy.  He is survived by his wife and son.

  Graveside services were held on Monday morning, February 13, at 11 a.m. in 
Madison City Cemetery.  The Reverend Charles Hasty, pastor of Madison 
Presbyterian Church, officiated.  Serving as pallbearers were Dr. Paul 
Lindsey, Roy Lambert, Paul Reid, Graham Ponder, Oscar Hanson, Usher Thomason, 
Charles Richter, and Dr. L. K. Lewis.

  In lieu of flowers the family asked that contributions be made to Madison 
Presbyterian Church or to a charity of your choice.

  Simmoms Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.


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