Hattie Atkinson

Hattie Lee Atkinson was born to the late Sidney Atkinson, Sr., and the late Madreen Coakley Atkinson. She was born on October 24, 1942, in the Honey Creek Community in the city of Waverly, Georgia, in the county of Camden. Being reared by a family that made Christ the head of their life, Hattie, at an early age, received Christ as her personal savior and joined Mount Sinai Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of the late Reverend C. S. Hardee.

She was a graduate of Ralph Bunche High School in 1960. After graduating from high school, she then moved to Miami, Florida, where she became a bookkeeper and later worked at Vital Statistics Records for many years. During this time, she raised her son, Michael Starkes, and later her grandchildren, Karen Starkes, Michael Starkes, Jr., and Zaria Starkes. After her retirement in 2010, she moved back to her family home in Honey Creek to be with her sisters, Ella, Arridina, and Chaireena Atkinson. She enjoyed tending to her gardens, doing puzzles, watching crime shows, talk shows, sports, and being around family and friends.

God sent his angels on June 19, 2026, to reclaim his gift to this world.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” —Matthew 5:4

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” —John 14:27

Hattie was preceded in death by her five brothers, Nolan, Jimmie, Levi, Sidney Jr., and Robert Atkinson; and five sisters, Annetta Atkinson Brown, Betty, Arridina, Chaireena, and Ella Atkinson.

Hattie leaves us many cherished and sweet memories. Memories which will be shared by her son, Michael (Altarina) Starkes of Miami, FL; three grandchildren, Karen Starkes, Michael Starkes, Jr., and Zaria Starkes, all of Miami, FL; nieces and nephews, Sharon Merrell, Sidney Atkinson III, and Bruce Atkinson, all of Brunswick, GA, Derek Cooke, Sr., of Waverly, GA, Gregory (Katrina) Brown and Brian Atkinson, both of Miami, FL, Julian Scott, Vonda Atkinson, Gary Atkinson, and Darnise Everette, all of Atlanta, GA, Ronald (Montika) Atkinson of Junction City, KS, Amanda Atkinson of Tifton, GA, and Kevin Atkinson and Aaron Atkinson, both of Darien, GA; three special great-nephews, Derek Jr., Jahiem Cooke, and Evan Howard, all of Atlanta, GA; and a host of great-grand-nieces, great-grand-nephews, cousins, neighbors, and friends.