Helen Juanita Atkins

Amory – Helen Juanita Atkins, 82, died on Sunday, September 15, 2013, at Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center. Born on March 19, 1931, in Greenwood Springs, she was a daughter of the late Harold Evans and Mattie Sue Hollingsworth Jones.

Mrs. Atkins was a graduate of Greenwood Springs High School, where she was an outstanding basketball player who was on two undefeated teams. On December 15, 1951, she married Sam Grady Atkins. Working as a seamstress with Seminole and Wilson Manufacturing, she went back to school to get her dietician’s license from the University of Mississippi. Upon finishing school, she lovingly served as Greenwood Springs Elementary School lunchroom manager for ten years. In 1999, Mrs. Atkins began helping her son at Pickle’s Drive-In. She was a member of Payne Memorial United Methodist Church, attended First United Methodist Church, and was active in UMW. A wonderful, devoted and loving mother and grandmother, Mrs. Atkins put her family above her own needs. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, homemaking, and listening to Country and Gospel music. Mrs. Atkins was passionate about working the polls during elections and bringing her homemade caramel cakes for all the workers to enjoy; visiting with people; and caring for her family.

Survivors include her sons, Sam Grady Atkins, Jr. (Sheila) and Dennis Ray Atkins (Kelli) of Amory; sisters-in-law, Hazel Dahlem (Julius) and Lucille West of Aberdeen; grandchildren, Whitney Atkins McPherson (John Russell), Abby Atkins, Katie Atkins, Dee Atkins, Samantha Atkins, and Jordan Atkins; great-grandson, Mason McPherson; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Grady Atkins; sister, Eugenia Talbot; and brother, Clayton Jones, Sr.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 PM, Tuesday, September 17 at E. E. Pickle Funeral Home with Rev. Jimmy Criddle and Rev. Tom Sheffield officiating. Burial will follow in Sartor Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Glenn Atkins, Donald Dahlem, Lynn Crump, Wayne Pope, Dee Atkins, and Jordan Atkins. Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Atkins and Clayton Jones, Jr.

Visitation will be from 5 – 8 PM, Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to American Heart Association, c/o Beth May, PO Box 269, Amory, MS 38821 or to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454
Alexandria, VA 22312.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.