MR. WILLIAM H. “RED” ATKINSON, age 84, of the Gresston Community of Dodge County, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Emory Midtown Hospital in Atlanta, GA.
MR. WILLIAM H. “RED” ATKINSON, age 84, of the Gresston Community of Dodge County, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Emory Midtown Hospital in Atlanta, GA.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Southerland Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Robbie Passmore officiating, with interment in Gresston Baptist Church Cemetery.
William H. “Red” Atkinson was born on June 24, 1942, in the Dubois Community of Dodge County and was of the Baptist Faith. He was a 1960 graduate of Dodge County High School and was a retired civil service employee at Robins Air Force Base where he worked for 58 years. Mr. Atkinson also owned and operated Atkinson Aluminum Sales for many years. He was a dedicated husband of 56 years and a loving father of three children, Timothy, Tamra, and Deana. He enjoyed spending time with his family especially his three grandchildren, Phillip, Kelby, and Jordan. He enjoyed woodworking, being outdoors and working in his yard. Red was an Atlanta Braves fan during the good years and the bad. He also had a routine of getting breakfast from Hardee’s in Hawkinsville every day for many years. Mr. Atkinson was a true family man and was affectionately known as “W.H.” at home to his wife and “Wormy” during his work career at Robins AFB. Red was the son of the late Nellie Mae Garrett Atkinson and Earnest Tim Atkinson and was preceded in death by his wife, Shelby Jean Jackson Atkinson and his son, William Timothy Atkinson.
Survivors include his 2 Daughters – Tamra Atkinson Andrews (Scott) of Cochran and Deana Atkinson of Warner Robins; 3 Grandchildren – Phillip Odom (Britleigh) of Perry, Kelby Dykes (Victoria) of Warner Robins, and Jordan Odom Dixon (Parker) of Dubois; 5 Great Grandchildren – Ellie Odom, Eli Odom, Caspian Dykes, Walker Dixon, and Scottie Dixon.
The family may be contacted at the residence of Tamra and Scott Andrews, 151 Berkley Road, Cochran, GA 31014, and will receive friends in Southerland Funeral Chapel from 6:00PM-8:00PM Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Locally owned and operated, Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home, has been "A Tradition of Trust" to Eastman, Dodge County and Middle Georgia for over 65 years.