Maureen "Jean" Williams Atkinson

Maureen Eugenia â??Jeanâ? Williams Atkinson was born on December 3, 1925 in Bladen County, NC; and passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and friends on December 7, 2011, at her sonâ??s home in Norfolk, VA. She is survived by her son, Jerel Atkinson, with whom she has lived since September 2004. She is also survived by her daughters, Jacqui (Dick) Sasser and Jill (Fred) Andrews; grandchildren, Megan (Nick) Wilder and Jack Andrews; and sister, Sue Tyler. Additional survivors include a sister-in-law and husband, nine nieces, eight nephews, plus several great nieces and great nephews. Jean was predeceased by Jack Atkinson, whom she married March 8, 1949, becoming an Army wife. Together they had three children and the family lived in Lumberton, NC; Columbia, SC; Prince George, VA; Nurnberg, Germany; and settled in Prince George. Jean was the fifth child of Willie Alexander Williams and Mary Elizabeth Russ. Her mother died when she was eight, which influenced her commitment to maintain strong family connections. She was a sharing and generous person who enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, shopping, traveling, fishing, playing bridge (achieving North American bridge champion, one level below life master), and NASCAR racing. She had a keen eye for detail and enjoyed sharing her candid observations. She was a talented seamstress, making beautiful clothes for her daughters and granddaughter. She was a warm, open person who enjoyed meeting people and had a knack for putting others at ease. Jean was always ready for an adventure, which could be attending a party, visiting family in NC, fishing at the Outer Banks or Buggs Island, or touring Alaska, Canada, China, or Europe. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. We would like to thank Janice Jackson for her dedicated care of our mother for over five years and Denise Smith who began assisting in February 2011. We also thank Zaida Saavedra who provided love, support, and friendship to Jean for six years, which was invaluable to her and our family. We are so grateful and indebted to our brother Jerel for his selfless dedication to and personal sacrifice for our motherâ??s care and happiness for the last seven years. He ensured no detail was overlooked and persisted on her behalf against every obstacle. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2011 at the Hopewell Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. A service in her honor will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at the Hopewell Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home, followed by interment beside her husband Jack at Southlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimerâ??s Association, Alzheimer's Association Greater Richmond Chapter 4600 Cox Road, Suite 130 Glen Allen, VA 23060, would be appreciated. Condolences may be registered online at www.jtmorriss.com .