Deacon Willie “Bro” McRoy Atkinson, 84, of Elm City passed away March 7 at his residence. Service will be held Saturday at noon at L.N. Forbes Original Free Will Baptist Tabernacle, 1800 Lane St. Ext. Elder Robert E. Daniels III will officiate with Bishop Percell Cooper presiding. Interment will follow in the Rest Haven Cemetery, Lane Street Extension.
He was chairman deacon of Mount Zion Primitive Progressive Baptist Church for over 40 years.
Loving memories are cherished by his wife of two years, Mrs. Virginia Batts Atkinson; 17 children, Donnell Atkinson, Douglas Atkinson, Linda Hall, Ronald Atkinson, Gerald Daniels (Lucy), Annette Baines, Robert Atkinson, Debra Cooper, Willie Atkinson Jr., Kenneth Atkinson, Valerie Wiggins, Teresa Williams, Edith Barnes, Keith Atkinson, Marcus Atkinson, Bobby Atkinson and Kim Andrew Atkinson; 49 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one sister, Geraldine Ladson; 12 stepchildren, Wilber Barnes, Willie Revis, Stephen Barnes, Alice Meeks, Vivian Jenkins, Tony Batts, Terry Batts, Timothy Batts, Kathy Ingram, David Batts, Michael Batts and Christian Batts; 32 step-grandchildren; 21 step-great-grandchildren; a host of other special relatives and friends.
A viewing will take place Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Hamilton Funeral Chapel, 726 Tarboro St. SW, with the family present later in the evening to receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All other times the family will receive friends at the residence where they will also assemble one hour prior to the service.
Arrangements by Hamilton Funeral Chapel of Wilson.