Margie Atkins

Margie Atkins was born to Russell and Gladys Smith 91 years ago in Lincolnton, GA.  She was the eldest of 7 siblings. 

Margie is affectionately known as Gainesville’s oldest teenager, and for those of you who knew her well, that was a perfect description of Margie.  In her 60’s, Margie received her renewed license in the mail stamped “Under 21.”  This was a source of great fun and so the Gainesville’s oldest teenager description stuck.  If music was playing, Margie was tapping her feet, swinging her hips, and clapping to the rhythm.  She had a contagious smile, and gave out hugs and kisses freely.  She loved people, and was a stranger to no one.  Margie loved to talk and considered everyone a friend. 

Margie retired after 25 years of employment with what was known then as Newman and Langston Pediatric Group.  It seems like she weighed at least half of the babies born in Hall County.  Long after her retirement, it wasn’t uncommon for Margie to stop young and old alike to tell them she weighed them when they were just a baby.

Margie has been a long time member of Lakewood Baptist Church and spent many of her retirement years volunteering to put church bulletins together on Friday mornings.  She especially loved it when Dr. Smiley would hand her his credit card so the volunteers could have lunch on him.  She loved Dr. Smiley, but more than anything, she loved Jesus!

Dementia began taking the brightness from both her memory and her smile in 2019 until Jesus sent His angel to take Margie to her heavenly home on April 9, 2022.  Margie was a resident of Manor Lake, and the family wishes to thank Manor Lake and Hospice of NE GA Medical Center for their excellent care of her during the final stages of her life.   

In addition to her parents, Margie was preceded in death by her brothers, Bobby and Buddy Smith, and her husband Clyde Atkins.  Margie and Clyde were married 51 years prior to his death in 2000. 

She is survived by her daughters, Gail Kelly, Rogers, AR; Cheryl and her spouse Tony Cagle, Gainesville, GA; son, Al and his spouse Tricia Atkins, Flowery Branch, GA. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren, their spouses, and 12 great grandchildren.  Ginger and Miles Franz and their children, Drake, Hadley, and Finley, Leawood, KS; David and Reianne Kelly, Bentonville, AR and Reianne’s son, Christian Minchew, Tucker, GA; Teresa and Rocky Pullin and their children, Preston, Danielle, Addison, and Benjamin, Powhatan, VA; Jessica and Thomas Robertson and their children, Hannah, Austin, and Sean, Hoschton, GA; Rachel and Gil Cordle and their daughter Reagan, Buford, GA.  Brother and sisters, Danny Smith, Ruth Puckett, Brenda Barker, and Ann Autry. 

Services for Margie Atkins will be held Saturday, April 16, 2022 at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA.  Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm with the service beginning at 2:00 pm in the chapel of the funeral home.  Dr. Tom Smiley will be presiding.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.