Loving and devoted mother and grandmother Karolyn Delethia “Lethy” Atkinson, of Elon, NC, passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on Saturday, April 23, 2022.
Lethy was born on January 22nd, 1945 to Dr. Eddie Lee and Odelia Scruggs in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The family moved through several southern towns as her father served in Baptist Ministry, eventually settling in Graceville, Florida. After graduating from Graceville High School in 1963, Lethy traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to support the Ridgecrest Baptist camps and then soon moved to Raleigh where she worked for several years. Here she met and married William Henry "Bill" Atkinson, Jr. in 1969, later giving birth to her only child, Ayne DeLynn Atkinson, in Greensboro, NC in 1972. The couple lived in Baltimore Maryland for 8 years before moving to Elon, NC in 1980 where Lethy was a cherished and active member of the community for over 40 years.
Lethy worked for over a decade at the Elon College Campus Bookstore and as well volunteered many years at the Burlington Shelter for Women. She was always the first to lend a hand to a friend, write a personal card, or volunteer her time. She was also an avid tennis player and a very recognized and beloved member of the Olde Forest Racquet Club for well over 30 years. One of her favorite places to be was on the court playing with her “tennis ladies”!
Her daughter and four grandchildren were her pride and joy and she frequently traveled to be with them as well as help take care of each grandchild when they were young. Her home was decorated wall to wall with pictures of her grandchildren as well as her friends and loved ones.
Lethy is survived by her husband, Bill Atkinson, her sisters Edria Todd of Dothan, Alabama, and Nelda Willliams of Zachary, Louisiana, her daughter DeLynn Louth, son in law Richard Louth and her 4 grandchildren Arielle, Hanna, Richie, and Taylor Louth of Cincinnati Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Lethy to the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church at 3624 Saxapahaw Road, Saxapahaw, NC 27302.
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