Sheriff Frank Atkinson

Paul Franklin “Frank” Atkinson, Sr., 68 of Greenwood, Arkansas passed away Monday, December 8, 2014 in a Fort Smith hospital. He was retired from the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office having served from 1969 to 2010. He served as department head for every division during that time, serving as Chief Deputy before becoming elected Sheriff in 1999. He was elected as Sheriff for six terms before retiring in 2010. He was elected Officer of the Year in 1976 and Sheriff of the Year in 2002. He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, life member of the Arkansas Sheriff’s Association and past president from 2009-2010, member of the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol and Junior Deputy Program, member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, December 12, 2014 at First Baptist Church in Greenwood with burial at Liberty Cemetery under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Thursday from 1 – 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, where the family will visit with friends from 5 – 8 p.m.

He is survived by his wife, Sharron; three sons, Frank Atkinson, Jr. of Hackett, Shane Atkinson of Huntington and Jake Atkinson of Greenwood; three daughters, Margo Shibley of Greenwood, Tonya Holland of Greenwood and Lisa Sisco of Fort Smith; one brother, Thomas M. “Tim” Atkinson of Fort Smith; four sisters, Neno Brooks Pike of Torrance, CA, Betty Brooks Rainwater of Torrance CA, Dottie Williamson Stanley of Canyon Lake, TX and Joyce Williamson Cathy of Aransas Pass, TX; thirteen grandchildren and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by daughter Carol Sue Atkinson, mother, Johnnie Brown Brooks; fathers, Lonnie S. Williamson and Tommy P. Atkinson; his step-father, Herman J. Brooks; sisters, Betty, Linda and Margie Williamson and brothers, Marshall Atkinson, Clarence Williamson and Son Williamson.

Pallbearers will be Frank Atkinson, Jr., Shane Atkinson, Jake Atkinson, Colt Shibley, Jesse Shibley, Jerry Mantooth, Kevin Holland and Hayden Holland. Honorary pallbearers will be past and present Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office Employees, members of the Sebastian County Mounted Patrol, members of the Arkansas Sheriff’s Association and friends at Table 12.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202 or www.ARchildrens.org.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com