LaVance Clement Atkins, 80, died Friday, November 15, 2013 at home in Rome, GA with Satchmo by her side. She was born February 27, 1932 in Kansas City, MO to Watson Clement and Nancy Bartram Clement. She was preceded in death by husband of 58 years, James William “Billy” Atkins, this past June.
She is survived by her children: a son, Bill Atkins and his wife, Janna Waters Atkins of Marietta, GA and a daughter, Nancy Atkins Bilek and her husband, Ed Bilek of Cincinnati, OH.
Her family will remember her most for her gentle, gracious nature, as well as, the love and dedication to her two children and her five grandchildren: Will, Barrett, and Anna Kate Atkins of Marietta, GA; Ethan Bilek of Cincinnati, OH and Darius Dalton of Atlanta. LaVance was also blessed with the loving care and devotion of Angie Hoyle and Christa Colding.
LaVance graduated from Rome High School and Georgia State College for Women (GSCW), now Georgia College and State University. She was a longtime member and scholarship essay judge for the Xavier Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. For over 60 years, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Rome and a member of the Senior Adult Sunday School Class.
For many years, residents of Rome remember LaVance and her smile at the Aloha Restaurant that she and Billy owned and operated. However, she is most fondly remembered by her colleagues and students for the 35 years that she served at Darlington School as a teacher and librarian.
The funeral service will be held Monday, November 18, 2013, at 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Rome with the Rev. Anjie Peek Woodworth and the Rev. Larry Caywood officiating. A private interment will be in the Myrtle Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the First United Methodist’s Wilder Family Life Center on Monday November 18, 2013, from 11 a.m. until the service hour.
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