Rev. Johnny F. Atkins
Reverend Johnny Frank Atkins was born September 24, 1949 in the community of Forest Home (Greenville, Alabama). He was the first son born to Frank and Mildred Atkins. He accepted Christ at an early age at Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist Church. On January 15, 2015, God called him home from “Labor to Reward” after working in the vineyard. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Atkins Sr., grandmother, Nora Mae Brooks, brother, Gregory Ewing, and sister, Janice Atkins Wages.
Rev. J.F. Atkins was raised by his grandmother, Nora Brooks, in the community of Johnsonville (Evergreen, Alabama). He gained education in the Conecuh County School System. He furthered his studies at Tuskegee Institute, where he received a scholarship in football and walked onto the basketball team after tryouts, Montgomery Bible Institute, and Selma Theological Extension. Rev. J.F. Atkins served on the school board for many years, was chairman of the local Alabama Democratic Conference, and held many other positions as an active member of his community. In 1986, God called Johnny F. Atkins to preach, and he committed his life to preaching the Gospel and began being a living example for Christ. His motto was “God wants us to be concerned about the whole man.” He served as a preacher of the Word for over 29 years, serving as pastor of three churches in Conecuh and Escambia counties. He became a member of the first church he pastured, Mt. Rose Missionary Baptist Church (Repton, Alabama), where he remained a faithful and supportive member. He also pastured First Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of the Mixonville community (Owassa, Alabama) and Greater Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Brewton, Alabama until his health started failing. He also served as moderator of the Evergreen District for a short period of time from which he resigned because of health reasons as well.
Rev. Atkins took his ministry seriously and God blessed him to be able to pastor, preach, and teach while working a full time, swing shift job to support his family. He would often state with conviction, “God does not want a lazy preacher” and he always remained humble.
He worked seven years for General Motors in Detroit, Michigan before moving to Alabama. He was employed at the Container Corporation of Brewton, Alabama, which is presently Georgia Pacific, for 36 years and retired in 2011. He was a people person, and loved his family, gardening, fishing, traveling, and sports.
On December 25, 1968, Johnny Atkins was united in Holy matrimony to Sherry Anell Harris. They remained as one for 46 years and 21 days and enjoyed their life together as one. Wherever you saw one, you would see the other. Johnny loved his wife and called her “Dude” as a sign of affection. He showed his love and appreciation for her daily. Upon knowledge of his illness and before, he began preparing his wife for what was to come. He would always say, “You need to know what to do so if anything happens to me, you will now what to do.”
He leaves to cherish his memories, a loving, devoted wife, Sherry Atkins of Castleberry, Alabama; mother, Mildred Ewing of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; four sons and two daughters, Rev. Sebrone (Donna) Johnson of Rochester, New York, Johnny Frank Atkins Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia, Patrick Orlando Atkins of San Leandro, California, Conrad Ed Atkins of Birmingham, Alabama, Tiffany (Tony) Section of Evergreen, Alabama, and Sharri (Benjamin) Grace of Evergreen, Alabama; two special sons, Phillip and Andrew Evans-Grace; four brothers, Frank (Katie) Atkins, Jessie (Sharon) Atkins, and Anthony Atkins, all of Birmingham, Alabama, and Cleveland (Maxine) Ewing Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia; nine sisters, Carolyn Matthews of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Shirley Williams of Hollywood, Florida, Linda (Reginald) Garner, Minnie (Ronald) Davidson, Rosie (Livingston) Gordon, Yolanda (Norman) Cotton, Trina (Terry) Horn, and Donna Atkins, all of Birmingham, Alabama, and Juanita Lasley of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; eleven grandchildren, Jessica (Tracey) Atkins-Stallworth, Patrick Orlando Atkins Jr., Brianna Atkins, Tyler Reed, Isis Atkins, Patrice Atkins, Darius Johnson, Bryan Johnson, Janea Atkins, Johnny Frank Atkins III, and Malachi Grace; two great-grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and four sons in the ministry.