Obituary of Rev. Jimmy Atkerson

CAMDEN – A service to celebrate the life of the Rev. James William “Jimmy” Atkerson, 73, will be held on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Springvale Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery.  The Rev. Todd Horton will officiate.  The family will receive friends Wednesday 5-7 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home, Lugoff.  Memorials may be made to Springvale Baptist Church, PO Box 880, Lugoff, SC 29078.

    Rev. Atkerson passed away at home surrounded by his family on Monday, November 12, 2018.  Born in Columbia, he was the son of the late John David and Iva Wise Atkerson.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Moody Bible College, Master’s Degree from Andersonville Baptist Seminary and Doctor of Divinity from New World Bible Institute.  He served as pastor for Hulon Baptist Church in Batesburg, Providence Baptist Church in Sumter, Unity Baptist Fellowship in Sumter and retired after serving as pastor for 33 years at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Camden.  He also had 22 years of fire service with the Camden Fire Department and during that time he won the Carl S. Hammond Volunteer Firefighter of the Year Award in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

    Rev. Atkerson was devoted to the ministry and served faithfully a shut –in-ministry for over 30 years at the Karesh Wing.  He was a faithful and devoted husband, father and grandfather.  He loved spending time with his family.

    Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Frankie Graves Atkerson; daughters, LaWanda Welsh (Bryan) of Camden, Melissa Foil (Craig) of Spanish Fort, Ala., and Christy Mooneyhan (Chuck) of Lugoff; sisters, Louise Cockrell, Sandra Jackson, Karen Leadingham and Cheryl Watkins; brother, DeWitt Atkerson; mother-in-law, Ethel Graves; sisters-in-law, Sue Branham and Ann Williams; grandchildren, Lindsay Murphy (Stephen), Erin Cousins (Curtis), Mathan Mooneyhan, Will Foil and Mason Mooneyhan; and great-grandchildren, Jackson Cousins, Riley Cousins and Grant Murphy.  He was predeceased by brothers, Marion Atkerson and Johnny Atkerson; and sisters, Jeanie Lovette and Miriam Moore.