William Thomas Hankins Jr.

William Thomas Hankins, Jr., age 92, of Atlanta, died Tuesday, January 23, 2018. He was born March 9, 1925 in Atlanta, Georgia to W.T. Hankins and Tina Mae Goode Hankins. He attended Kirkwood Elementary School, Bass Junior High and Boys High School. He graduated from Boys High in 1942, where he was Valedictorian of the class of over 300 students.

Billy attended Vanderbilt University his freshman year. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Then in 1943, during WWII he enlisted in the Navy. He attended midshipman school and was in radar school. While in the service he was in training at the University of the South, M.I.T., Bowdoin College in Maine, Northwestern University, and University of Chicago. He served at Key West, Florida naval station. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Returning to Atlanta, he attended Emory University where he received his degree in Accounting. He became a C.P.A. and completed his entire career in Atlanta. His career began with an international “Big 8” C.P.A. firm and later included the creation and management of his own C.P.A firm.

He was a member of the Druid Hills Civitan Club for 50 years and is honored with a lifetime membership.

The Baptist Tabernacle was his home church. Returning to the Tabernacle in 1946 after the service, he was active in the choir, was a deacon, and often emcee of dinner entertainment. There he began dating Elma Virginia Slider. They married at the Tabernacle June 30, 1951. They later joined Wieuca Road Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and active in Sunday school. Billy was known for his smile, his sense of humor, and his strong Christian values.

He is survived by his wife, Elma, son Bill and wife Janet Willy Hankins, son John and wife Susan Mayer Hankins, and four grandchildren, Leslie, Michele, Eric and Will.

Funeral Service will be held at H.M. Patterson Spring Hill located at 1020 Spring Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309 at 11 o'clock am on Friday, January 26, 2018. Visitation with family will be one hour prior with burial at Westview Cemetery.