Mike grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and graduated from Christian Brothers High School. After high school, he attended Memphis State University and then enlisted in the Marine Reserves. He spent his career in the industrial plastics field, most notably at Gulf Wandes Plastics, a family-owned business, in New Orleans.
A dedicated family man, Mike enjoyed hunting, fishing, barbecuing for family and friends, watching football, and playing cards and board games. He loved following his grandchildren’s sports teams and coached his children’s Little League teams. Cancer stole much of his vitality in later years, but he rarely complained and was an inspiration to his entire family.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Virginia Powell and James Dudley Atkinson, Jr., brothers James Dudley Atkinson III and John Powell Atkinson.
He leaves behind his loving wife Myra, daughter Tracy (Andy), son Michael (Samantha), four grandchildren, Andrew, Mercer, Evan, Christopher, and his sister, Virginia Gesme.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison on Friday, October 24, at 11:00 AM with interment following at Parkway Memorial Cemetery. There will be visitation at the church one hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory be made to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Madison, the Mississippi Food Network, or a charity of your choosing.
