Roswell James Atkinson

Roswell James Atkinson died at Benton House of Newnan on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at eighty-six years of age. A longtime resident of Greenville, Georgia, Mr. Atkinson moved to Newnan, Georgia in 2010. “Ros” was married to the late Elizabeth “Lib” Thomas Atkinson of Hogansville. They were married on September 1, 1951 and spent sixty joyous years of marriage together until her death on October 20, 2011. Mr. Atkinson was the son of the late John Pepper Atkinson and Sara Letson Atkinson of Greenville. He is survived by his children: Pepper Atkinson (and Pat), Tommy Atkinson, Marguerite Atkinson Mase, and LouAnne Atkinson Connell (and Randy); grandchildren: Roswell James “Jamie” Atkinson III, Sara Mase Gathright (and Will), Kathleen Mase Mengistu (and Addis), Matthew Mase, Katie Connell Miller (and Doug), Louise Connell Lambert (and Scott), Thomas Connell (and Emily); and great-grandchildren Curtis and Connor Mase, Katelyn Miller, and Addison Mengistu. He is also survived by his sister, Anne Atkinson Wilburn. Preceding Ros in death were his parents and his sister, Georgia. Ros grew up in Greenville until the age of fifteen when he attended Georgia Military College in Milledgeville and then graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens as a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was soon drafted into the army and achieved the status of First Lieutenant, Tank Unit Commander while based in Camp Polk, Louisiana. He was wounded in a training accident and was soon thereafter honorably discharged. He and “Lib” set up residency in Greenville where he worked at the Greenville Banking Company of which he eventually became president. He was involved in many civic organizations as well as his beloved church, the Greenville United Methodist Church. He served on the Meriwether County Hospital Board for many years. Ros loved his church, his family, his friends, and his Georgia Bulldogs! The family is extremely grateful for the loving and attentive care demonstrated by the staff at Benton House of Newnan and his “family” of caregivers in The Beacon at Benton House. They also want to recognize the loving and supportive staffs of Peachtree Hematology and Oncology, the Piedmont Hospital-Newnan Outpatient Infusion Center and Gentiva Hospice for their care and support during Mr. Atkinson’s long illness. The family is also grateful for the love and friendship of his dear friend Martha Lee. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 2, with visitation at 1:00 and service at 2:00 in the sanctuary at the Greenville United Methodist Church. A private interment will take place at a later date. The family requests that rather than flowers, please send contributions to the Greenville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 186, Greenville, GA 30222.

Roswell James Atkinson

March 23, 1929 - April 28, 2015