ERNEST ARTHUR ATKINSON

It is with deep sorrow that Harriette Huntley Atkinson announces the death of her beloved husband, Ernest Arthur Atkinson, 86.
Mr. Atkinson entered into rest on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
The directors of Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home are caring for the family.
A graveside service to honor his life was held at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the High Hill True Light Church Cemetery. Dwain Watson and Lynn Young officiated.
The family received friends immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his honor to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
Mr. Atkinson was a kind and loving husband, father and friend. As a husband, he loved his wife and honored his marriage to Harriette every day, taking care of anything that she needed as long as he was able. As a father, he provided tender loving care to his beloved first son for the 26 years that Artie was here on the Earth. He also devoted himself to teaching and supporting Hal in everything and imparted many skills to him with the utmost patience. Arthur loved his daughter-in-law, Heidi, as his own.
In his later years, he treasured spending time with his grandson, Liam, who became the light of his life. Extended family, friends and co-workers from SIFCO and Shaw Air Force Base admired him for his kindness, laughter and charm. He never met a stranger, and he brought many a smile to his close caregivers with his jolly nature, even to the end of his life. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife, Harriette Huntley Atkinson of Bishopville; son, Hal (Heidi Klepin) Atkinson of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and grandson, Liam Atkinson of Winston-Salem.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Ernest Arthur "Artie" Atkinson Jr; and sisters, Betty Hodge and Ada Hinson, both of Sumter.
The family would like to thank Dr. Franklin Watkins of the J. Paul Sticht Center on Aging for his dedicated and compassionate care over the last five years, the many team members at Trellis Supportive Care, Griswold Home Care and his excellent personal caregivers at home and at Homestead Hills.