[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E992]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING ANDREW F. ATKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2018

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable public servant, the late Mr. Andrew F. Atkins.
  Mr. Atkins was a native of St. Joseph, Louisiana. In 1911, Mr. 
Atkins' family moved to the Mississippi Delta. He attended Alcorn High 
School in Lorman, Mississippi, where he completed his education. He was 
a resident of Hollandale, Mississippi, most of his adult life. Mr. 
Atkins made sure it was possible that all of his six children got a 
college education.
  Mr. Atkins was a strong minded and religious person. He was a loyal 
and noble character. He lived a beautiful, rewarding and spiritual 
life. Mr. Atkins was the longest serving member on the Board of Trustee 
and deacon board plus secretary/treasurer of the Little Rock Baptist 
Church of Hollandale, Mississippi. He also served as Superintendent of 
the Sunday School for a number of years.
  Mr. Atkins began his career at the age of 21, where he was a Burial 
Insurance Agent for Dillon Funeral Home and Dillon Burial Association 
of Vicksburg and Leland, Mississippi for more than 70 years. Not only 
was he a successful insurance agent, he was also a successful Farmer. 
He owned and operated his farm for a number of years. At this time that 
same farm is being rented to another farmer in Hollandale, Mississippi. 
Mr. Atkins' life also included the involvement in the lives of school 
students. He was the first Black school bus driver to be hired in the 
Black Hollandale Consolidated School District. He drove the school bus 
for twenty-eight years where he played a positive role in the lives of 
the students that rode his bus. There was a good student/bus-driver 
relationship.
  Mr. Atkins was an outstanding Mason F & AM. He was elected Worshipful 
Master where he served for 43 years. On the District level, he served 
as secretary/treasurer from 1949 to 2009. He was also a member of the 
third largest and one of the oldest African American Organization--The 
Knights and Daughters of Tabor of Mound Bayou, Mississippi.
  Lastly, Mr. Atkins was a character member of the Darlove-Murphy, 
Mississippi Water Association. He was instrumental in getting running 
water to approximately 150 residents in the Darlove-Murphy communities. 
He had over 60 years of community/civic service in the Mississippi 
Delta and other Mississippi cities and towns.
  During Mr. Atkins' spare time, he loved hunting rabbits, squirrels 
and raccoons. Mr. Atkins' departed this life at the age of 101.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the late 
Mr. Andrew F. Atkins for his dedication to serving others and giving 
back to the African American community.

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