RICHARD EUGENE ATKINSON
Sept. 26, 1940-April 14, 2013
Richard Eugene Atkinson, affectionately known as Gene Dawson, son of the late Wesley Dawson and Sarah Atkinson Johnson, was born Sept. 26, 1940, in Wayne County. He entered into the presence of the Lord Sunday, April 14, 2013, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
He attended Wayne County Schools.
He was a faithful member of Holly Green Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and usher.
Richard "Gene" was united in holy matrimony to Hattie Smith for 50 years. Together they worked hard to provide a loving home for their family.
He was a kind, free-hearted man, who would lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He was also a man of his word; if he told you that he was going to do something, you could count on it being done.
He enjoyed his life and many hobbies such as rebuilding engines, racing fast pretty cars, motorcycles and talking on the CB radio (his handles were "King Floyd" and "the Hood Swamp Terrapin").
He was a farmer by trade; although he held many public jobs and could fix anything, he always came back to farming. We believe he liked receiving his assignments, and just getting out there doing the job the way it needed to be done, and without all the micromanaging. He worked on the farm consistently from the late 1960s until his health failed in 2001.
Richard was preceded in death by a sister, Carrie L. Thompson, and a brother, Billy Dawson.
He leaves to cherish his memories his wife, Hattie Atkinson of the home; two sons, Terry (Angelene) Atkinson and Richard Junior Atkinson both of Goldsboro, N.C.; four daughters, Carol Sutton, Towanda (Kenny) Casper and Tiffany Suggs (Fred Holder) all of Goldsboro, N.C., and Shewanda Boyette of Atlanta, Ga.; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jonathan Kornegay of Williamston, N.C., and William Earl Kornegay of LaGrange, N.C.; three sisters, Christine Pittman, Doris (Charles) Bradley both of Randallstown, Md., and Queen Esther (William) Coley of Goldsboro, N.C.; an uncle, William (Elizabeth) Dawson of Goldsboro; two aunts, Maude Simmons and Marie Jackson of Goldsboro, N.C.; mother-in-law, Marie Artis; brothers-in-law, Robert (Janie) Spruill of Goldsboro, N.C., and James Daniels of District Heights, Md.; a sister-in-law, Diane Spruill of Goldsboro, N.C.; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Bear Creek Missionary Baptist Church. Interment will be held immediately following the services at Wayne Memorial Park South.
The family will be receiving friends at 117 Mill Creek Court.
Arrangements are being handled by E.M. Matthews Funeral Home and Cremation Inc.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on April 18, 2013 1:48 PM