Mary Virginia Herrington Atkinson, 87, widow of Willie L. Atkinson, died Thursday, June 14, 2018, at Palmetto Health Tuomey.

Born June 8, 1931, in Atkins, she was a daughter of the late James Franklin Herrington and the late Ada Marie Nesbitt Herrington. She was a member of Faith Baptist Church and attended Bible Fellowship Church. She retired from Sumter School District 17 after 32 years of service.

Survivors include three children, Willie E. “Bill” Atkinson of Sumter, Beth Jessup (the late Dr. Earl Jessup) of Bentonville, Arkansas, and Vicky Blackmon (Barry) of Sumter; nine grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Annie Laurie Atkinson (Kenneth) of Sumter.

Funeral services will be held at 3 P.M. Sunday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Eddie Richardson, the Rev. Brian Lynn, and Joel Jessup officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 P.M. Sunday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Bible Fellowship Church, 227 Broad St., Sumter, SC 29150 or to Baptist Church Planting Ministry Seed Bank, P.O. Box 387, Greenbriar, TN 37073.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

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