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It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of our dear friend, Mrs. Gwendolyn Marshall Atkinson, 89. Mrs. Atkinson passed away peacefully on Friday, May 21, 2021, at the home of her beloved friend and daughter-in-Christ, Sherry Walters, in Patrick, SC. A funeral service and celebration of her life will be held at 4 o'clock on Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Union United Methodist Church. The Rev. Paige Wheeler, The Rev. Charlie Short, and Mr. Tony Atkinson will officiate with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Family and friends are invited to greet each other in the church sanctuary following the graveside committal. Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Directors are caring for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Union United Methodist Church General Fund, 4379 Union Church Road, McBee, SC 29101, or Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, PO Box 1178, Greenwood SC 29648. Mrs. Atkinson, the widow of Robert Bennett Atkinson, was born in Darlington County, SC. She was a daughter of the late Maggie Kelly and Robert Thearon Marshall. She was a faithful member of Union United Methodist Church, The Lore McCoy Sunday School Class, the United Methodist Women, the church choir, and Senior Citizen. She has served as Lay Member to the SC United Methodist Annual Conference, President of the Senior Citizens, President of the United Methodist Women, Vice President of the Hartsville District United Methodist Women, and served in many other positions in the church during her life. Gwen worked at Hartsville Manufacturing Company for 38 years as an engineer. She enjoyed directing weddings, decorating for different occasions at church, oil painting, and knitting. She loved people and everyone knew how she loved Christmas. All year long Gwen reminded them every month how long it was until Christmas -- Even in January! She is survived by her nieces, Brenda Rayfield of Rock Hill, SC, Diane Wojewodzic of Clayton, NC; nephews, Gene Marshall Lewis of Anderson, SC, Vair Lewis of Abbeville, SC, Roy Lapel of Middlebury, VT. Mrs. Atkinson was also survived by her faithful friend and daughter-in-Christ, Sherry "Beaver" Walters, and her husband Steve, whom she considered family and cared for her in her illness. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving son, Ben Atkinson, her loving husband of 57 years, Robert Bennett Atkinson; sisters, Zella Blackwell, Corine Lewis, Rebecca (Basil) Piper, Rachel Marshall, Virginia Fournier; brothers, Needham Marshall, and Bobby Marshall.

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Mrs. Gwendolyn Marshall Atkinson

March 9, 1932 - May 21, 2021