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- Hugh Atkinson 1921-2004 Turbeville loses community leader- Item Writer- Sharron Haley- 11 Feb 2004- TURBEVILLE- Described by his pastor as a “true servant” of God, the residents in this rural town in northeastern Clarendon County are mourning the death of a true leader in the community, a man who residents say always put others before himself. ¶ “Mr. Donnie” Hugh Atkinson, 83, died Sunday in a Florence hospital after a brief illness. Mr. Donnie, as he was known, was an extremely active senior citizen. He walked two miles almost every day and never failed to pick up and deliver the mail to his church, Turbeville First Baptist Church, and Turbeville Town Hall. It was during the morning of Jan. 26 when an ice storm struck Clarendn County that he was severly injured after falling on a patch of ice. He later succumbed from related complications. ¶ “He was ‘the best’ father,” his daughter Sandra Nell McElveen said Tuesday. “He was always there for us. He was a wonderful Christian example for his family, his friends and his community.” ¶ McElveen said her father was always willing to do for his family and for others. Before her mother died with Alzheimer’s disease, her father was right there by her mother’s side helping her and caring for her, McElveen said. ¶ Born in Clarendon County, Mr. Atkinson was a son of the William Thomas Atkinson and Corrine Morris Atkinson. He was a retired building supply coordinator with Coker Builders, a U. S. Navy veteran and a former mayor and town council member of Turbeville. In 1985, Mr. Atkinson was honored as Turbeville’s Citizen of the Year. ¶ Committed to serving others, Mr. Atkinson was a member of numerous church, civic and community organizations including secretary of the Turbeville Ruritan Club, a member of the Douglas Post of the American Legion, a 55-year member of the Fidelity Masonic Lodge No. 394, where he served as past master, and a deacon and guardian of the FIrst Baptist Church of Turbeville for 53 years. ¶ “He did just about everything,” said the Rev. Bert Petty, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Turbeville. “He served us in all kinds of ways and in deed so many untold things. He was always busy serving the Lord.” ¶ When describing Mr. Atkinson, Petty remembered a particular passage from the Bible, Mark 10:43 - “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your servant.” ¶ Mr. Atkinson lived the words of Mark 10:43, Petty said. ¶ Turbeville Mayor Ginie Turbeville said the entire town was praying for “Mr. Donnie’s” recovery. “We will definitely miss him,” Turbeville said. “He was always cheerful. He had something nice to say and a hug every time you saw him.” ¶ For more than 45 years, Barney Lee B. Morris has known Mr. Atkinson. “I’ve known Mr. Donnie ever since I moved to Turbeville after getting married,” she said. “He was a fine, Christian gentleman who would go well beyond the call of duty to help anyone that was in need.” ¶ According to Dr. Kate Smith of Turbeville, Mr. Atkinson “was everything to many people.” ¶ “He helped with his church and your church. I, personally, will miss him as will this town, its residents and the churches.” ¶ Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at the First Baptist Church of Turbeville with burial in the church cemetery. [8]
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1921 - 2004 (83 years)
