Susan Atkinson

Susan Foree (Edwards) Atkinson, age 83, formerly of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2020 at home in Roswell, Georgia. A woman of integrity and strong Christian faith, Susan consistently showed love to family, friends and strangers throughout her life. She was especially devoted to her husband Ben of 64 years and her grandchildren: Ben, Madelyn, Paige and Tate.

Susan was born in Carlisle, Kentucky on Sept 8, 1936. She is the daughter of the late Charles and Willa Dee Edwards of Newcastle, Kentucky. In addition to her parents, her brother, Alfred Mitchell Edwards of Salem, Oregon and a half sister, Carolyn (Edwards) Montgomery are deceased.

Survivors include her husband, William Bennett Atkinson, of Roswell and two sisters; Dean Louise Conyer of Paducah and Mary Nelle Zanett and her husband “Bud”, of Tucson, Arizona and two daughters; Margaret Dee Pierce and her husband John Mark, of Knoxville, Tennessee and Karyn Elizabeth Durand and her husband Rick, of Roswell. She leaves four grandchildren: Oliver Bennett Pierce and his wife Kim, of Indiana, Pennsylvania and Madelyn Ellen (Pierce) Carmichael and her husband Jordan, of Falls Church, Virginia, Margaret Paige (Faure) Monley and her husband Adam, of West Orange, New Jersey and Virginia Tate Durand and her fiancé’ Alex Villarreal, of New York City. Susan also had two great grandchildren, Emilia Joy Pierce and Henry “Hank” Monley. Other living relatives include a niece, Susan (Theobald) Moore and her husband, Michael of Dallas, Texas and their son, Nick Moore and daughter, Katie Mulosia and husband, Sifa. She also leaves a nephew, Barry Theobald and his wife, Mary and their three children, Lauren, Nicole and John Luke. And another niece, Kim Kraemer and her husband, Phil and Kim’s children: Katherine and Alex. Susan also leaves family members in New Castle and Eminence, Ky.

A versatile and creative homemaker, Susan also volunteered at Olivet Baptist Church in Paducah for over 40 years. She taught students of all ages, sang in the choir and managed a church library. Susan also hosted many visitors at their former historic homestead on 6601 Old U.S. Highway 60 where they lived for 50 years. Some of whom were Christian missionaries and pastors as well as other guests who came to Paducah for the American Quilt Show. Ben and Susan sold the land and their historic log homes to the McCracken County School Board in 2008 (where the McCracken County High School now stands) before moving to Knoxville and eventually, Roswell, to be closer to family.

Visitation will be at Milner and Orr Funeral Home of Paducah (120 Memorial Dr.) on Saturday, February 15, 2020 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 pm. It will be followed by a graveside service at 1 pm at Maple Lawn Park Cemetery. The service will be led by Susan’s grandson, Oliver Bennett Pierce, a Presbyterian college pastor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601 or www.act.alz.org
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You may also light a candle or leave a message of sympathy for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.

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