Helen Claire Dowdle Atkins, 95, of Columbus, MS passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-GT, Columbus, MS.

Visitation will be Saturday, February 4, 2017, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS. Funeral Services will follow at 11:00 AM with Rev. Jeff Manning officiating in the Lowndes Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in Andrews Chapel Cemetery, Liberty, Alabama with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Atkins was born October 26, 1921, to the late Robert Alvin and Missie Richards Dowdle in Liberty, Alabama. At the age of 16, she was the youngest to graduate from Liberty High School, Liberty, AL. On November 9, 1940, Mrs. Atkins married her husband of 53 years Marcus Jefferson Atkins in Lauderdale County, MS. She was a military spouse for 24 years serving at various stations around the world. Mrs. Atkins worked 33 years for the civil service and was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Columbus, MS, where she attended regularly until she moved into Trinity. Mrs. Atkins was an avid reader, accomplished seamstress, loved gardening, and enjoyed traveling. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband- Marcus Jefferson Atkins and son-Kenneth Atkins; brothers-Bremon Dowdle, Elton Dowdle, Comer "Pat" Dowdle, Earl Dowdle, and John T. Dowdle; and sister-Ina Ray Strickland.

Mrs. Atkins is survived by her daughter-Donna (Rudy) Manning, Columbus, MS; son-Mark (Maureen) Atkins, Jasper, GA; daughter-in-law-Paula Atkins, Waleska, GA; grandchildren-Sharon (Andy) Arp, Carol (Charles) Swanson; Mark (Nan) Atkins, James (Cheryl) Atkins, Tracy (Scott) Roy, Brian (Mara) Atkins, Josh Manning, Jenny (Ryan) Holloway, and Jeff (Kate) Manning; 16 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Charles Swanson, Mark Atkins, Jr., James Atkins, Brian Atkins, Scott Roy, and Ryan Holloway. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mrs. Atkins' nieces and nephews, Dr. Doyle Sumrall, Staff of Trinity Place Retirement Community, Dr. John C. Boswell, Dr. Michael Duckworth, and the Staff of PACU, and Hospice at Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle.

Memorials may be made to Andrews Chapel Church Fund, 141 Lacey Brook Drive, Millport, AL  35576 or Andrews Chapel Cemetery Fund, 141 Lacey Brook Drive, Millport, AL  35576.

You may watch the webcast for Mrs. Helen Dowdle Atkins: http://webcasts.lifetributes.com/774254