Funeral Services for Mrs. Sarah Frances Atkins, age 84 of Ashland, will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church in Ashland with Rev. Bruce Willis and Rev. Rusty Craig officiating. Burial will follow at the Ashland City Cemetery.
Mrs. Atkins passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at the Clay County Nursing Home. She was born and raised in Clay County and was a graduate of Clay County High School. After high school, she attended the Sylacauga Hospital School of Nursing and graduated Class of 1962. She worked between Clay County Hospital and Wedowee Hospital between 1962 and 1991 off and on. Mrs. Atkins also worked in New Mexico for the Indian Health Service, where she helped deliver Navaho Indian Babies on the reservation. Her last job was working at the Clay County Hospital as the Quality Assurance Coordinator until she retired. Mrs. Atkins felt being a nurse was a calling, and loved helping people. She enjoyed reading, collecting dolls, knitting, crossword puzzles, and looking at flowers. She was a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (U.D.C), in which she kept a genealogy and was a Charter Member and President. She was also a member of the American Red Cross Nursing Chapter and of First Baptist Church in Ashland.
Mrs. Atkins is survived by her daughter, Robin Atkins Nix (Clarence) of Lineville; her sister, Elizabeth Beam of Ashland; and her nephew, James Alan Beam of Vancouver, Washington.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Willis Corty and Myrtle A. Stockdale Atkins, and her sister, Betty Sue Atkins.
Pallbearers will be friends and family.
Her visitation will take place on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at First Baptist Church in Ashland from 12:00 P.M. until service time at 2:00 P.M. in lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to the clay County Animal Shelter. Donations can be sent to: P.O. Box 194, Lineville, AL 36266
