Dorothy Calvert Rivers Atkins, age 92, of Curry, AL, passed into her eternal life with Jesus on January 11, 2020. Family will be receiving friends on Friday, January 17, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Curry. Funeral will follow at 3:00 at Mt. Vernon. Collins-Burke Funeral Home will be directing. Reverend John Gates will officiate along with Reverend Howard Thompson.
Dorothy was born in Crane Hill, Alabama in Cullman County on February 17, 1927, and lived there until 1947. She moved to Curry, Alabama with her husband, Kenneth Owen Rivers (J. W. ), in 1949 and remained there until her death.
She graduated Walker Junior College and got her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Alabama. She taught 29 years at Curry Elementary School, with the exception of one year at Farmstead Elementary School early in her career. She taught children and children of children during those years and each one became like one of her own.
She was a member of Blooming Grove Baptist church, where J. W. was a deacon, until his death in 1954. After his death, she moved to Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in 1959 where she was an active member until her age prevented her from serving as she so desired.
In 1967 she married Arlan H. Atkins and they were married until his death in 2000. They enjoyed life together for 33 years.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her two husbands, Kenneth O. Rivers (J. W. ) and Arlan H. Atkins; parents, Onnie M. Calvert and Sarah M. Calvert; sisters Cordie Calvert Kilgo and Jewell Calvert Phillips.
Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Rivers Harbison Herr and Reda Rivers West (Greg); grandchildren, Brian Herr (Allison), Jonathan Herr (Paige), Paul West (Kristy), Lisa Simms (Duane), Jay West (Amber); and great grandchildren, Jake Herr, Helen Herr, Dru Simms, Ann Marie Simms, Will West, Elenor West, and Evelyn West; one brother, Ray Calvert (Evelyn); and many nieces and nephews.
The family has been blessed by the prayers and expressions of love during this time and we sincerely thank you for the loving concern expressed by so many. We believe that the life given to Dorothy was well lived in service to others, blessing so many through the years. She left her indelible imprint on the lives of her family, friends and countless students. We want to especially thank her caregivers over the past 11 years; Shirley Aaron, Barbara Forrester, Sherry Rice, Dot Dill and Glynnes Williams.
Donations to the Curry Elementary School Library may be made in her memory at Traders and Farmers Bank, Curry, AL.
