| HIST |
of Sumter, South Carolina at death- he had 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren
Date Published: September 24, 2009
WILLIE L. ATKINSON
Trusting in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, Willie Ladson Atkinson went to his heavenly home on Sept. 22, 2009.
He was born June 9, 1925, in Trinity community, to sharecropper parents, Walter and Janie Bell Atkinson. At 18 years, he joined the Army to serve his country in World War II, serving under General Patton. While serving in France and Germany, he was wounded twice, with the second wound nearly taking his life and costing him his left arm. He received numerous medals, including the Purple Heart. Following 18 months of recovery and an honorable discharge from the Army, he married his sweetheart, Mary Virginia Herrington, with whom he spent the following 61 years of marriage. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Sumter. He spent nearly 50 years driving for various car dealerships in the Sumter area, logging thousands of miles across the Southeast.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; three children, Willie (Bill) of Sumter, Beth Jessup and her husband, Earl, of Barrie, Ontario, and Vicky Blackmon and her husband, Barry, of Sumter; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Kenneth A. Atkinson and his wife, Annie, of Sumter; and a sister, Mary Emma Barkley of Columbia.
It is with honor that we salute a lifelong soldier as he takes his final post in God's heavenly army with a service at 11 a.m. Saturday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel on Miller Road in Sumter.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home.
Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. www.ecsfunerals.com [3, 7, 9] |
| MILI |
at 18 years of age, he joined the Army to serve his country in World War II, serving under General Patton. While serving in France and Germany, he was wounded twice, with the second wound nearly taking his life and costing him his left arm. He received numerous medals, including the Purple Heart. Following 18 months of recover he was honorable discharged from the Army, [9] |
1925 - 2009 (84 years)
[8] 