Robert Jackson Atkins, Sr. “BJ”, a proud veteran of the US Army and Florida Army National Guard, passed away on 11 November 2022.
The son of Robert Serls Atkins and Alcinda Gage McGee, BJ spent his youth in Panama Canal Zone and moved to Palm Valley, Florida. He was born on 3 April 1950 and graduated from Grand Canyon University, receiving a master’s degree in Criminal Justice.
At 20, BJ enlisted in the US Army, volunteering for service in Vietnam. He valued this service and fell in love with flying, making the military his lifelong career and eventually earning the rank of Senior Sergeant. As part of this service, he served his country for 40 years, encompassing multiple volunteering efforts and Army deployments, including Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
BJ is survived by his wife of 50 years, Charlene Slocumb Atkins; their son, Robert J Atkins, Jr. (wife, Jenniffer L. Atkins), and their daughters, Leisa S Atkins and Alaina J Atkins. His grandchildren remember him: Kirstyn, Shane, Jamie, Stephen, Patrick, Hunter, Connor, Riley, and Reagan. He will be missed by his two sisters, Gisela Atkins Cooke and Dalys Atkins Zappia. and by his numerous nieces and nephews. He is also honored by his best friend of over 50 years, Ernest Hare.
A service honoring the life of Robert Jackson Atkins, Sr (BJ Atkins) will be held at Jacksonville National Cemetery on 17 November 2022 at 1 pm.
