CALVIN E. ATKINSON, JR.

Calvin Eugene Atkinson, Jr., age 53, of Donalsonville, GA passed away Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2018 in Iron City, GA. Funeral services for Mr. Atkinson will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Donalsonville Church of God with Rev. Phillip Kirkland officiating.  Interment will follow in Lynn Family Cemetery located at Hammock Springs Freewill Baptist Church on Hebrew Road in Donalsonville with Mike Miller, Jeremy Faircloth, Tommy Dollar, Bob Freeman, Issac Cull, and Richard Plair serving as active casketbearers. Honorary casketbearers will be members of the Seminole County Young Farmers Association, Rome Ethredge, Don Dekle, Mike Chambers, Foy Gill, Mike Casey, Members of Masonic Lodges of Georgia, and members of Seminole County High School Class of 1983.   Visitation will be held on Friday evening, Sept. 14, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the chapel of Evans-Skipper Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, a benefit fund has been set up at First Port City Bank.  Memorial contributions may be mailed to or dropped off at First Port City Bank in Donalsonville (PO Box 1027 Donalsonville, GA 39845) or First Port City Bank in Bainbridge (PO Box 1070 Bainbridge, GA 39818) or at Dollar Farm Products PO Box 68 Bainbridge, GA 39818.  Checks should be made to the Calvin Atkinson, Jr. Benefit Account. Mr. Atkinson was born in Donalsonville, GA on June 4, 1965 to Calvin Eugene Atkinson, Sr. and Delores Yates Atkinson.  He graduated from Seminole County High School in 1983 and was of the Baptist faith.  Calvin had worked in agriculture all of his life, the last 15 years for Dollar Family Farms.  He was a member of the Seminole County Young Farmers Association having served as Chapter President from Feb. of 2014 to Jan. of 2015. Calvin was extremely active in community organizations, being a member of the Masons Seminole Lodge, Salem Lodge #267, Decatur County Lodge, Miller County Lodge, and Albany Lodge, as well as a member of the Scottish Rites.  He loved anything to do with FFA and supporting youth in agriculture and was a member of the FFA Alumni Association. He was an honorary member of the FFA, a volunteer on the 4-H Shotgun Team, and had served on the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce Hog Show Committee.  Calvin loved jeep riding and was a member of several jeep groups, but most of all he loved his grandbabies and spending time with his family.  Anyone who knew Calvin knew that he would do anything to help anyone and they also knew that he was blessed with the “gift of gab”, he truly enjoyed talking with everyone! Calvin leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Melissa Atkinson of Donalsonville, GA; his mother, Delores King and her husband Frank of Bascom, FL; his father, Calvin E. Atkinson, Sr. and his wife Beth of Mariana, FL; his grandmother, Annie Lou Atkinson of Donalsonville, GA; his son, Seth Atkinson (Kristin) of Donalsonville, GA; his daughter, Bailey Atkinson (Randall) of Albany, GA; his sister, Beverly Cross (Foy) of Donalsonville, GA; and his brother, Colby Atkinson (Deana) of Donalsonville, GA.  He is also survived by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Charlotte and Hiram Smith of Donalsonville, GA; his grandchildren, Chanley Atkinson, Brooklyn Walden, and the one on the way, Zeke Calvin Atkinson; as well as numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Sylvester and Lottie Yates; his paternal grandfather, Walter C. Atkinson, Jr.; and niece Savannah Smith.