A Tribute in Celebration of the Life of Mary Elizabeth Dixon Atkins December 22, 1944 - August 8, 2006 Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Wappingers Falls, NY Reverend Edward L Hunt, PhD., Pastor August19,2006 ORDER OF SERVICE Presiding ...................................Rev. Edward L. Hunt Processional ............................. Clergy and Family Selection ...................................Use Me Lord Prayer ....................................... Rev. Edward L. Hunt Scripture ....................................Pastor Lorraine Dixon Lawson Old Testament Jeremiah 29:11-13 New Testament 2nd Timothy 4:6-8 Selection ...................................Rainbow Child Angela Bofield Opening Reflections ................. Art Atkins Jr. (Randy) Rev. Willie B. Jenkins 2nd Mother Interpretive Dance Performed By ...........Linda Molina Selection .................I Hope you Dance Lee Ann Womack Reflections ................................Family and Friends Selection ...................................Don't Cry For Me Ce Ce Winnans Acknowledgements ................... Candice Dixon Selection ...................................This Litlle Light Of Mine Benediction ...............................Rev. Gail Burger Former President Dutchess Interfaith Council July n, 1997 Dearest Randy, I lave you wilh all my heart. I will lave you alUXLys. You are my rainbow child barn an Sunday morning with the dnwn and I knaw yau will carry an. I am not afraid of death. I am anly wrry that you, my family and I~ will have to go through the grieving proce~ which can be painful. But God and my memory and lave will romfort you al'liXlys. With aU my lave, Morn Dear Family and Friends, January 1982 While an Earth, I 1ms b~d to have a preciaus, loving, wanderful :nn, Arthur Randolph Atkins Jr. (Randy). I UX1S and al1mys will be the daughter of two of the worllls greatest parents: I1ayd J arnes Dixan of Sernura, North, Carolina and Nettie Smith Dixan of Puughkeepsie, New Yark and a sister to a great bunch of peaple: Marshall !Jixon,lnrraine Lawsan, Candice Dixan, Ursula Jamison and Lula Mae Parker-Harris. God also b~d me wiUt an aunt and uncle (Hm11Ul and Jack McPhail) who were just like my paren~. He filled my life with a myriad of nieces, nephews, aun~, uncles, causins, in-laws and friends. I thank Him far placing me in the midst of tn many uxmderful people. God showed me huw to be totally happy in Him, mytX3lf and with t~ around me. Again, I thank him. While I 11XlS on Earth,, I tried to be a Christian and help others. I will :nan find aut if I succeeded. The most important thing I 'l/XJ,nt yau to rem.emher is that God is loving and m.erciful and He does answer prayer in His own time. If yau miss anything of me, it can only be lX3eing my physical body and hearing my voice. Everythi111J else, the most impartant things - my love, my inner being (including my perronality and spirit) w11l always be with yau. Remember me not wlth tears and sorrow but wlth sm,iles and la'IJIIhiBr!!! With Eternal Love, Mary Elimbeth Dixan Atkins Dear Mam, Mars/taU, Lmmine, Candice, Randy, Jennica, Alieia, S'JPIWfl, Lula Mae and Mrs. Jenkins, I cant thank God enaugh far giving me yau -putting you in my life. Yau haw 11UUle my life. Yau have 11UUle my life the wanderful experieru;e thaJ; it is. Jm ln grateful far 'JPUT lave and Ute way you share Gods b~ngs with me. I can't thank yau enaugh. As I think of each of yau I smile and thank God far yaur life interl:lulning with mine. (I wish I could exp~ my feeling and thaug~ better). Just know that yau have my eternal lure and grat:ltude. Each one of you is special to me. When you read this after i leave this earth, know thnl I prayed, (begged) God to comfort you - giw you tis peace thnt ~beyond all understanding- thnl He wraps you i:n His loving arms, and takes any hurt you rr~ny have away. Dan't grieve -let God's low and my love sustain you. Please tell the rest of my family a'TI.d my friends that i lave them and am thankful far all the experiences we shared. I pray to God far them also. Lave farever, Mary Elimbeth Dixon Aikins REMEMBER HIM When mother's gone and father's gone and there's no one to hear you, when you mel all alone and seem lost, confused and can1 seem to get things together, or M find yOll' way in what seems like A endless darkness, when your longing to love and there's no R one to giw it k> when no one Y' seems to understand )Q.I and you're at yotK rope's end, when s you want something - anything to fill the wid and emptiness in your life, when you long for peace of F mind and can't find peace anywhere, remember. there is no A need of a man God can fill. v When there's no one, He is your 0 mother and tather, sister and brother - your guide and friend. R When you can1 count on anyone I you can count on him. When you don't know what to do with T your self or your life, tell Hm and He will lead you to your true E place here on earth and show you a role only )00 can play. He p will take your hand and walk with you in life. And what He gives to 0 you no man can take away. If you trust il Hm and become one E with Him, He will be one with you and there ain1 nothing you can't M do, br He knows what's in your s heart and soul. He will show you the beautiful treasures hidden inside of you, for He is everything and in everyone. Lm would be so much easier and happier if only we would remember Him. By Angela H. Kilamore EVEN MY PAIN'S GONNABE PRETIY No more ugly days br me the sun shines always and the rain is sweet and cleansing washing my gutters clean. Cloudy days will be soft and hazy not blue and lonely. Problems will only be challenges and sickness will just be a signal to listen. Even My Pain's Gonna Be Pretty. Disappointment will be growth because it will teach me to choose more carefully. Delays will be lessons in patience because i kOOW' everything comes in time, in tine, even when im late i11 be on time. There is no loss if anything goes I gave it away and blessed whoever got it Evan My Pain's Gonna Be Pretty. Closed doors are wrong paths, jammed doors will be q>ened once I will learn the truth. n1 not be tired only resting. No mistakes only lessons and growth and change movement. Joy! Joy! Joy! Evan My Pain's Gonna Be Pretty. By C. Tillery Banks EDUCATION 1962 Poughkeepsie High School 1966 State University of New York (SUNY} At New Paltz BA Elementary Education TEACHING EXPERIENCE 2003- 2005 Locust Grove Samuel Morse Historic Site Education Facilitator 2000 - 2005 Northern Westchester/Putnam BOCES Social Studies Consultant 1990 - 2005 New York Geographic Al6ance Teacher Consultant New York Geographical Alfiance Summer Institute @ SUNY New Paltz Instructor 1970 - 2000 Poughkeepsie Middle School 6th, 7th and 8th grades Teacher 1970 - 1978 Vassar College and Poughkeepsie Day School Summer Programs Teacher 1966 - 1969 Krieger Elementary School Poughkeepsie School District 6th grade Teacher 1963 - 1965 Poughkeepsie Recreation Deparbnent Summer Program Playground Director COMMITTEES Mid Hudson Social Studies Council Presidert, Vice President, Newsletter Editor, Workshop Preserter and Hospitality Committee NYSCSS Convention New York State Council For The Social Studies Treasurer, Elementary Committee, Middle School Committee, Ad Hoc Joirt committee on Framework Dissemination and Review, Workshop Presenter, Facilitator, Registration Committee, Geography Bee Judge and Timekeeper New York Geographic Alliance Teacher Consultant, Regional Liason, Board of Directors, National Geographic Society Family Geography Challenge Consultant, NYGA Delegate for the International Geographer's Symposillll National Geographic Society Teaching Geography Project Workshop Presenter State University of New York at New Paltz Alumni Association Board of Directors and Vice President, Secretary, Student Outreach Chairwoman, Mid Hudson Chapter President, Board of Directors College of New Pal1z Follldation Poughkeepsie Public School Teachers Association Co-Chairwoman, 1966 Teachers Conference Day Trustee, Homeless Shelter Food Volunteer Coordinator Poughkeepsie Public Schools' Credit Union Board of Directors Dutchess Interfaith Council Tour of Houses of Worship Chairwoman Poughkeepsie Faculty Council Delegate Poughkeepsie Middle School 20th Anniversary Celebration Chairwoman PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Mid Hudson Social Studies Council New York State Council for Social Studies National Council for Social Studies New York Geographical Alliance New York State Retired Reading Council Mid Hudson Reading Council New York State Reading Council CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES SUNY New Paltz Alumni Association Hudson River Housing Board of Directors Dutchess County Historical Society Black History Committee Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Missionary Ministry Second Baptist Church Trustee, Choir, Vice president, Sunday School Teacher Poughkeepsie Public School Teachers' Association Representative Board Poughkeepsie Bardavon Theater Volunteer Usher Mrs. Patrice's Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner Volunteer Coordinator Planned Parenthood Volunteer AWARDS 1966 SUNY New Paltz Honor Roll Award 1993 & 1999 Mid Hudson Social Studies Council Service Award 1994 SUNY New Paltz Distinguished Alumni Service 1996 New York State Council for the Social Studies Middle School Teacher of the Year 2000 Black Achiever Award 2000 Black Prestige Award Seven Day Adventist Community Achievement Award 2005-20006 New York State Council for the Social Studies Continuous Service Award ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The family of Mary D. Atkins would like to express our deepest gratitude for your continued gifts of love and support. Since September 2005, she received over 550 greeting cards! Numerous vases of colorful flowers, vivid green plants, countless number of thoughtful phone calls, personal letters of inspiration, uplifting visitations and deliciously prepared home cooked meals were all sincerely appreciated by our dear mother, sister, aunt and friend. A memorial marker for Mary has been placed in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetary. It is located on the bottom right corner of the side of the masoleum that faces the Hudson River. At a later date, the tam ily will have a private ceremony to lovingly spread her ashes over a body of water. Please do not send flowers. During my lifetime, my family and friends gave me flowers that I could see as well as smell. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Dutchess Outreach 29 N. Hamilton Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Dutchess County Coalition for the Homeless 28 Snow Terrace Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 SUNY New Paltz Foundation C/0 Mary Atkins Book Scholarship Fund 1 Hawk Dr. HAB 501 New Paltz, NY 12561 Hudson River Housing 313 Mill St. Poughkeepsie, New York 12601 Mary Elizabeth . Dixon Atldns POUGHKEEPSIE On Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2000, I left this world to go to a . better world, a more pleas- ant and peaceful world. I was born on ' Dec. 22, 1944 . in Poughkeepsie to the happy parents of : the late Lloyd and Nettie Dixon. They provided.a loving and ~lid founda- tion for me to flourish in life educa. tional.IY and spiritually. I graduated .from Poughkeepsie High School (1962) and SUNY New Paltz (1966). I . efijoyed 34 yeats of teaching middle school students in the same school : district where I experienbed many ~t years of l~g..Additionally, :my life's journey brought me back to serve onvarious committees and as an officer of the. New Paltz:aluinni ..assMoyciastpioirnit.wll base was -developed, first, at home by my parents and then the fellowship and teachings at Sec- : ond Baptist ChUrCh. As a young per- .. son, I was involved in numerous ' youth-church actiVities which includ. ed singing, ushering; _teaching Sun- day scliool, reciting poems forholiday .,programs and so much JllOre.. . . In the summer ot 1967, I was .:blessed With my only child, Arthur ': Randolph A~ Jr. '(Randy). My son, yoq have growtt''into a man that any.mother would be proud of. I wish you much.sqccess, peace and .happi- : ness as you continue to travel through your life's journey .with l..atoya. . . . ~ .. I leave this world with beautiful memories of my .brother, Marshall . Dixon; my sisters, Urusla Jamison, . Lort73ine I..awson and Candice Dixon; my nieces,' Alicia and Jennicai my great-niece, Symore; my adc)pted sis- ter/friend, Lula Ma.e.IIris and my very spe$1 second.mother, Rev. Mrs. Willie B. Jenkins. . I am thankful for all the people I have had theopportunity to befriend . itnoumchyeldifeytiomuer.l.iIfefy.tohuenfeerletshtaatsIsuhra..ev4e that you have touched mine also: '. Now.I rest so I can appreciate what God has in store for me. I hope everyone Will continue to carry God's Love in . again. . your heart. until . 'YC . m~t. .: . Memorial service8 will be.held at. 12noon, Saturday, Aug: 19, at Bethel .Missionary . :Baptist . Church, 2611 .South Ave.;.Wappingers Falls, Rev. Dr. Edward L. Hunt, Pastor. ' ' .: .In lieu of ..flowers, please make .donations to: Dutchess Outreach, 29 No: Hamilton Sl, ~ughkeepsie, NY. .126Q~; ;H~dson River Housing, 313 ., Mill 'Sl; Dutchess PCoouugnhtkyee~osailei,tiNonYfo1r26t0h1e;. Homeless,' 28 Snow Terrace, Pough- .keepsie, 'NY '12601 or SUNY New .. Paltz Fbunc4ltion, C/o Mary Atkins . . BOOk " Scholarship; 1 ..,.. ."'""""~'~''; .'f. .l~}Aj .B. 501; N/ ew.. Pa.tlz, NY