James M. Atkinson

james atkinson
James M. Atkinson, 86, died Saturday, March 31, 2007, at his home on Sulphur Springs Road in Asheville. Mr. Atkinson was born in Anson County and was a son of the late James R. and Effie Ratliff Atkinson. He was an Army veteran of WW II and received a Purple Heart for injuries received during the D-Day invasion in France. He was a member of West Asheville Presbyterian Church. He was a retired salesman with Luke Atkinson Furniture Store and more recently worked with Saniway Vacuum on Haywood Road. Surviving are his wife, Peggy Mitchell Atkinson; one daughter, Eileen Hartwell and her husband, David, of Durham; two sons, James R. Atkinson and his wife, Pam, of Fairview and Mitch Atkinson and his wife Lane, of Hickory; six grandchildren, Justin Atkinson and his wife, Amy, Chris Atkinson, Kathryn Langston and her husband, David, Jennifer Atkinson, Zach Hartwell and Nicholas Atkinson; one sister, Hazel Eubanks of Charlotte and one brother, Luke Atkinson and his wife Mary Beth, of Asheville. Funeral services will be at 12:00 noon Wednesday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Rick Langston officiating. Interment will follow at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by the Buncombe County Veterans Council. His family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and suggest that memorials by made to one’s favorite charity.

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  1. Mitch,
    I am so sorry for your family’s loss. I will pray for your mother, especially. May God give you all peace which passes all understanding.

  2. I am truly sorry to hear of Jim’s passing, I have spent many nights on Sulpher Springs Rd with a very gracious family.That was many years ago but I vividly remember those days. I talked to Jim about 2 wks ago and he was just as I remembered laughing and talking like no tomorrow.Mrs.Atkinson,Dick,Mitch and Eileen my God Bless all of you.

  3. Atkinson Family,
    We spend our entire lives preparing for this day – families will mourn but rejoice in the knowledge of the future. My prayers are with you.

  4. Granddaddy, when you died part of my heart went with you. I would give anything to be able to hear you call me ‘baby doll’ one more time. I miss you, more than I thought possible, but I know that you are in Heaven, waiting on your family to come. I love you much.

  5. Dear Mitch and Lane,
    We are so sorry to hear about your dad. Our prayers are with you and your whole family during this time. We have friends visiting from Maryland, or we would be there in Ashville to see you both. We love you. We know that God will strengthen you both during this time.

    Brad & Terry

  6. Mitch, Chris, Jennifer, and Nicholas,

    We are so sorry to hear about your Dad and Grandad. You all are very special to us and we hurt when you hurt. We are praying for you all and all the family. Know that you are loved and thought of.

    Love and prayers,
    Bob and Melanie Cook and Family

  7. Dear Eileen and Family,
    We love you and send our heartfelt concern for you at this time. We pray that God will comfort you in the way that only He can. We know that He truly loves us, even more than we love each other. That is an amazing love! We will continue to keep you in our prayers.
    Ronald and Lisa Winstead

  8. Mrs. Hartwell, I am very sorry to read about your dad. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Be comforted by the hope from the scriptures. (John 5:28,29; Ps. 37:9-11, 29, 37) Warm regards, zack self

  9. Eileen, I was so sorry to hear about your loss. Remember that earth has no loss that heaven cannot heal. I love you and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
    Love, Mary Ann
    ‘My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart–He is mine forever’……Psalm 73:26

  10. I was shocked and saddened to hear abouit Jim. We had a lot of good times at the Tastee Diner for several years. I have all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

  11. Dear family,
    So sorry to hear about Mr. Jim’s passing. I only met him and Ms. Peggy one time, but could tell what wonderful people they are. I will always appreciate the kindness and friendship that the Atkinson’s shared with my sister Marlene and her girls Morgan and Samantha. Your family is in my prayers.

  12. Dear Mitch,
    We are so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. WE love you both and our hearts are full of sadness for you but at the same time Joy for Him
    as he shares his new life with the Lord. Love You.

    Ann and Larry Bohemier

  13. G-Diddy,

    I miss you terribly already. I hope to one be half the man you were. I will miss the stories, the laughs, and the jokes you and I shared. I want you to know that you got one of the best compliments i have ever heard at your service on tuesday evening. I can’t rember who said it but they said ‘ Because Jim is there, Heaven just got a lot more attractive’

    Love you and miss you,
    Chris

  14. For the Atkinson family, My sister & I knew you as a young children and as your next door neighbors on Sulphur Springs. Jim was always so kind to Lori & me. We have very fond memories of your whole families kindness. We feel so lucky to have visited with Jim in the fall of 2005 and then again in the summer of 2006 when we were in Asheville. My parents David & Elva Hall, and my sister and I have shed a lot of tears this week over your loss. We know that Jim has lived with the Lord in his life always and lived his life as such. Now he walks with him. Our prayers are with you.

  15. To the Atkinson family; My family and I are so sorry for your loss. Although the Lord had different plans than for my sister Julie and I to continue living beside Jim in the house of Sulpher Springs Road, we must have always continued living in his angelic heart. He hadn’t seen either of us for almost 30 years the last time that we saw him together, which was the day that our Grandfather was buried. Julie and I stood on the front porch (like we did so many times as little ones) and rang the doorbell. Wouldn’t you know that almost 3 decades later, after just opening his door, he spoke my name just like it was yesterday and he saw us walking home from Vance Elementary? I cannot begin to tell you how he healed our hearts. As the Lord tells us, for everything there is a season. And with the wonderful reunion of our parents David and Elva Hall, we are all helping to heal each other’s hearts after hearing of Jim’s passing. Thank you so much for being such a loving, Christian family and extending that love to ours. I think of Jim often, and just smile remembering the countless things he said and did to help make our childhood wonderful. May the Lord continue to comfort you.

  16. Grandaddy,

    The past week has been hard for me and the entire family. Your passing has been more difficult than any of us could have imagined. I will always remember your stories, compliments, and inspiring affections. I know I will see you again one day in Heaven. I love you, more than you knew!
    -Jennifer

  17. Dear Atkinson Family,
    I just heard about Jims passing a couple of days ago. I am so sorry that I missed his service and was unable to be there to represent our family. Momma and Daddy and our whole family thought the world of Jim. He was always so kind and the best neighbor anyone could ever ask for. I can see him now with his ball cap on strolling down the street whistling a tune or just siiting on his front porch enjoying the outside. I remember the last time I saw him we were having a yard sell across the street and he came over and hugged my neck. We chatted for a while and I know he knew how hard it was for me to have lost my parents and to be there watching people go through their things. His gentle smile and kind heart instantly made me feel better. He hugged me and told me he loved me and I told him I loved him too. I am glad those were the last words that were spoken. It’s always hard for me to go back to 159 Sulphur Springs Road because I know it will never be the same. And now that Jim will no longer be the neighbor across the street it will add to my sorrow. I know that Momma and Daddy are glad to have their neighbor up in heaven.
    Love to you all.
    Kathy (Griswold) Woods

  18. I have some memories of ‘Grand Daddy Atkinson’ that brings a smile when I think of them. I loved to sit and listen to his stories and just hear him talk. I loved his infectious smile and warm, kind spirit. I know each of you have a rolodex of memories to reflect upon. My prayer is your memories will help get you through this time of loss. Your family is in my prayers and I send my condolences to each and every one of you. With love,

  19. Mitch,
    Plese accept our oondolences for you and your entire family at the time of this tremendous loss of your beloved father. Remember that your solace and your strength to persevere is in the LORD and in the prayers for you that your many friends are lifting up to Throne of God.

  20. Mitch, Lane, Nic & family, we send our love and resurrection faith to you–‘James out-ran us to heaven!’ Charles, Julie, MaryGrace, Ashley Beth, Molly Ann & Joseph Kyker

  21. Mitch & Lane,
    I am so sorry for you and your family. I am thinking of you.
    I love you,
    Tamie Ramsey Doyle

  22. Jim and Peggy were long time friends with my parents,Jim and Virgina Maney. What I remember of Jim was his smile,how tall he was and his great sence of humor towards the kids that were around him.As I get older,I realize how important it is to have real,true friends in life.Jenny Lynn Maney McClure

  23. Dear Family – please know that our prayers are with you & for you.So many good memories of someone so dear!This man’s shoes can never be filled – & we count ourselves blessed by having known him.I sincerely hope the good memories will help you through this.Our hearts ache with you and yet we can smile at the memories too.If there is anything we can do to help you please don’t hesitate to let us know.

  24. Peggy Anne and Family, We do go back a lot of years. We were distressed to read about Jim in today’s paper. Regardless of age, health, or any other circumstance in life we are never ready to lose our loved ones. The only comfort has to come from our Faith in the Sovereignty of God and the manifested concern of caring friends. We hold you in our thoughts and prayers and hope in some small way it helps to know others do care. Zunita and Joe

  25. Eileen, I kow God is holding you tightly in His arms right now. Please kow that I am praying for you and your family during this dificult time.
    I love you my sweet friend,
    Cathy Clark


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