Lifelong Selma resident and business leader, Victor Bethune Atkins, Jr., died Monday, August 19, 2019, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was born in Selma March 31, 1927, the son of the late Victor Bethune Atkins, Sr., and Kate Watson Smith Atkins.

He was a product of the Selma City Schools and graduated from Albert G. Parrish High School where he played trombone in the band.

He was a graduate of Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) and The LSU School of Banking. While attending Auburn, he was a trombonist with the Auburn Knights Orchestra. He attended Auburn Knights Alumni reunions for most of his life, often accompanied by family and friends. He was also a member of Kappa Alpha Order.

He had a long and varied career including farming in Martin Station, and banking for the Dallas County Abstract Company and City National/AmSouth Bank.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, serving on the Vestry and singing in the choir until just a few years ago when his hearing made it too difficult.

He was a member of the Selma Kiwanis Club, andserved as treasurer for the Friends of the Vaughan-Smitherman Building and the Auburn Knights Alumni Association.

He served as Campaign Chairman for the United Way and was a member of the German Club and Knights of Revelry.

Music and humor were interests he shared with family, friends and all who knew him. Victor gifted many people with special tapes and emails specifically chosen for each person, delighting each recipient with music or jokes he thought he or she would enjoy.

Fredreica asked Brother to share some memories of their Daddy:

Dad loved peanut butter, fishing, jazz, music and humor. He taught me to love these things, too. He taught me the wonders of jazz music, told me to follow my bliss, fully supported my pursuit, and lived vicariously through my travels. He and Freddy (Fred, mother of Red) would plan vacations around my tour dates. His love of peanut butter was deep and without culinary norms or boundaries. He loved peanut butter and he would even eat it with Vidalia onion. This was one thing he could never teach me to like. After an annual fishing trip to Apalachicola with his buddies, I asked about the fishing, and he said, “The catching was lousy, but the fishing was great.” Those were words to live by. While he didn’t exactly love farming, he loved horticulture. He knew every plant on the property. The ivy came from his mother’s house. The water chestnut came from Lake Martin. Earlier this year, a large shrub was beginning to flower in view from his recliner, and he asked us to take a picture of it because “God put it there for me to see, and it might be my last season to enjoy the blooms.”

He was predeceased by his parents, his wife, Fredreica Elizabeth Heinz Atkins and his brother, Julien (Fine) Smith Atkins. He is survived by his daughter, Fredreica Atkins Speyer (Paul); his son, Victor Bethune Atkins, III (Jennifer); his grandchildren, Julien Smith Speyer, Katherine Lanning Speyer, Victor Bethune Atkins, IV, Ellefair Hawkins Atkins and Archer Hairston Atkins, and his faithful companion, Martin. He was the last of his generation of Smith, Atkins, Martin, Lee and Shields cousins, but there are many descendants left to share the memories.

Visitation will be held Friday, August 23rd, 2019 at 10 a.m. in the lower hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 210 Lauderdale Street, followed by the funeral service in the sanctuary at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Henry Hudson officiating.  Family and friends are invited to gather afterwards to share memories and his favorite jokes.

The family would like to thank his caregivers for their devoted and loving care; the staff at the Oaks on Parkwood; and the staff of Comfort Care Hospice for their professional comfort and care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or to the Auburn Knights Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Donations may be made electronically at http://www.auburnknightsalumni.org or mailed to Auburn Knights Alumni Association (AKAA), 995 W. Richland Circle Auburn, Alabama 36832.