A volunteer and educator from the Black Belt passed away this week.

Mattie Green Atchison died Thursday at 83.

Atchison was one of the first librarians at Cedar Park Elementary when the school opened in 1965 and later worked for Dr. Bracey Cross.

Towanda Jones, hearing impaired resource teacher at Cedar Park Elementary School who worked with Atchison for seven years, said Atchison was someone who always did her best to help others.

“She was such a caring and hardworking lady,” Jones said. “She was the first here at Cedar Park when she was here. Anything she could do to assist children and teachers alike, she was always working to make sure we had the best possible school.”