Mary Atkins

Mary Martha Minor Atkins, 78, of Dover, TN passed from this life on August 11, 2023 at Dover Care Center.
A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Anglin Funeral Home with Mike Minor officiating. Burial will follow at Hall Cemetery, Indian Mound, TN. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at Anglin Funeral Home and will continue on Wednesday from 11:00 am until the time of service.

Mary was born in Clarksville, TN on September 15, 1944 to Stephen G. Minor and Marie Norris Minor. She grew up in the Cunningham, St. Bethlehem and Dotsonville communities where she was raised in the Baptist faith. A 1962 graduate of Woodlawn High School, Mary began her working career in the office of Boot-Ster Manufacturing Co. in Clarksville where she met the love of her life, Jerry Neal Atkins, and they were married almost 44 years at the time of his death in 2010. Together they created a home and family, first in Clarksville, then Dover, where Jerry built their residence, Mary taking such pride in his diligence. They were two of the last employees when Boot-Ster ceased operation in the 1980s. Mary became part of the Northern Bank of Tennessee workforce family, which later transitioned to First American Bank. She then worked at F&M Bank in Clarksville until her retirement in 2009.

Mary and Jerry loved going to car races and listening to the blues. They were devoted to their sons, Jeff and Steve, and spent countless hours at ballfields and gymnasiums as baseball and basketball became their primary past times.

An excellent “country cook”, Mary loved to feed family and her coworkers; she baked an untold number of German chocolate cakes to send with Jerry for his TVA coworkers to enjoy. She loved collecting old pretty bowls and dishes, which gave her joy, thinking of the meals that had been prepared and served in them. She was an avid Elvis fan from the start, then Willie Nelson took top billing over time. Mary loved poetry and literature.

Mrs. Atkins is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Neal Atkins; her parents, Rev. Stephen G. and Lurlene J. Minor; and mother.

She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey Neal Atkins, Cumberland City, Jerald Steven Atkins (Heather), Dover; granddaughter, Lori Kate Atkins; brother, Michael Stephen Minor, Woodlawn; sister, Grace Minor Bonecutter (Hank), Clarksville, four nieces, two nephews, and several great-nieces and -nephews.

Pallbearers will be Jeff Atkins, Steve Atkins, Jim McGee, Jamie McGee, Seth Bonecutter, and Austin Hall.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or your local pet adoption center.

Arrangements are entrusted to Anglin Funeral Home, Dover, TN and online condolences may be made to anglinfuneralhome.com.