Jeanne Ann Atkins

Obituary for Jeanne Ann Lawrence Howard Atkins

Jeanne Ann Lawrence Howard Atkins departed this world on May 16, 2018. She was born on April 29, 1941 to Margaret Maxine Jones Lawrence and Dewitt Leslie Lawrence in Columbus, Mississippi. Jeanne Ann was preceded in death by her parents, older brothers David and William (Billy) Lawrence and a younger brother Tommy Lawrence. She was also welcomed in Heaven by brothers- and sisters-in-law LaFon Lawrence, Micki Lawrence, Mary Sue Atkins, Noel Atkins, Libby Atkins, Juanita Atkins and Leon Atkins. She is survived by her husband Danny Atkins of Vernon and Ethelsville, AL, daughter Leslie Kaye Howard Smith and her husband Michael F. Smith along with their sons David Roland and Zachary Bryant Smith of Birmingham, AL. She is also survived by stepchildren Carol Atkins Weathers (Mark) of Vernon, AL and Neal Atkins (Andy) of Kona, HI, a step-granddaughter Allison Dove of Vernon and brother John Lawrence of LaGrange, GA, in-laws Louise Lawrence and Paul and Linda Atkins of Ethelsville and Regina Atkins of Caledonia. She’s also survived by countless nieces. nephews, cousins, patients and friends.

Mrs. Atkins will be laid to rest in a private ceremony for family and close friends at Tabernacle United Methodist Church in Ethelsville, AL. A celebration of her life will follow later this year. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in her name to the Chron’s and Colitis Foundation, the Lowndes County Humane Society or to Tabernacle United Methodist Church.

That is her basic obituary – but my mother was so much more than basic. Her caring hands touched so very many people. She was part of the Lee High School class of 1959, though many of them forget that she actually graduated from Greenville High School. My grandfather’s job at the C&G Railroad transferred them there her junior year.

After high school she went to Memphis State to begin her studies but soon transferred to St. Dominick’s in Jackson, MS to complete her education in nursing. But my mother was a born nurse. She had nerves of steel, a heart of pure gold and hands that could be gentle or tough depending on whether she was holding a heart during surgery or restraining a patient who needed help. Mom worked along side some of the greats in medicine including names like Kirklin, Pacifico and Spencer at UAB Hospital in open-heart surgery. She also worked in cardiac rehab, ICU, CCU, floor nursing and taught surgical techs at West Lowndes Community College.

Through her fifty-plus years in nursing Mom touched so many, many lives. There just isn’t enough space here to recount all the stories I’ve heard over the years from her experiences. My mother was formidable when it came to defending a patient’s life. As dedicated as she was to her work, she worked hardest for her family. Jeanne Ann took care of her daughter (me) as a single parent for thirteen years during a time when it was the exception. She moved to our family farm in Pickens County Alabama to care for her own mother when she had a heart attack. (Though my grandmother Margaret was tough enough to recover and live through about twelve more before moving on to Heaven.) Jeanne learned her grit and perseverance from Margaret and her compassion from her father Leslie. Several years later she met the love of her life and married Danny Atkins of Vernon. They were happily married for over thirty-five years.

Though I’ve always shared my mother with our other family or her patients, I was so very lucky and honored that she was MY mother.

In Loving Memory, Leslie Kaye