William B. Atkins Jr.

ATKINS, JR., WILLIAM (BILL) BENJAMIN Bill Atkins, of Clay, AL passed away at home on Monday, August 22, 2011. He was born on January 23, 1943, was raised in Birmingham, AL and graduated from Ensley High School. Bill attended Auburn University and received his Master's Degree in Botany & Plant Pathology in 1968. He taught in the Biology Department at Jefferson State Community College for the next 30 years. After retiring from Jeff State he owned and operated Birmingham Bug Busters Pest Control Company until 2009. He was preceded in death by his parents, William B. Atkins, Sr. and Ola Mae Atkins. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Gayle Braswell Atkins; children, Lea Ann Presley (David) and William B. Atkins III (Toni); his grandson, Brian; his sister, Mary Atkins Vaughn (James); very special sister-in-law, Carol Dale (Muffy Darling); and his two granddogs, Rockford and Panda. Bill was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who loved Auburn football, the Chicago Cubs, fishing, running, telling and hearing good tales, and most of all sunsets at the beach. A special thank you to Family Comfort Hospice, especially his nurse, Jane Missildine, and to his sitters, Fontaine Thomas, Donna Milton, and Gerica Walton for the loving care and attention they gave our Dad. We will love and miss you always! WAR EAGLE DAD! A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 4:00 PM with a visitation 1 hour prior to the service at Ridout's Trussville Chapel. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation Of America, 322 Eight Ave, 7th Floor, New York ,NY 10001. >>