Tuberculosis In the Atkins Family

This is my First official Post on the new official Atkins family website. I chose to open on a topic that affected the Atkins family as a whole, that of Tuberculosis . Four members of the family suffered and died from it from the year of 1914 to the year of 1944.
The First to die was Lovie Atkins Hammons Born in January of 1888 and dying in 1914. She was Married to T.E Hammons. She is buried in Turkey Creek cemetery. Research is ongoing on her. Lovie was the second to last daughter born to Samuel and Sarah Atkinson and Sister of Elisha Joe Atkins.

 
 



















  

            
The second member of the family to succumb was Elisha Joes first born son James Bedford. James was born in about 1898 according to his Death certificate, born in December to be exact. James was drafted at Clay County Tennessee in 1918. He did his basic training at Ft. Thomas Kentucky . James never would see action in the war, he was discharged in December of 1918. In 1919 James and his family of nine brothers and sister would make the move to Grayson county Texas where they would live in Tombean then make the move to Anna Texas two years later in 1921. According to James death certificate he suffered from the flu from about 1914 or so up until 1917. This is listed as a secondary cause of death other than the Pulmonary Tb James suffered from his D.C claimed from 1921 until 1926 when James finally died. James obituary mentions his being in a Kerrville sanitarium some years early to fight the disease. Alas no treatment worked and James was taken from his parents and nine siblings on November 20th of 1926. Jim as he was fondly called by those who loved him left behind three children and a wife . His children were Anna lee, Georgia Florence and J.B Jr,  J.b was just a baby at the time. James was buried in Van alstyne cemetery in Greer Block 4. In 1939 he would receive a military headstone signed for by brother jerry Paul Atkins. Up until then James had a simple concrete marker to mark him until he got a real stone for his grave.

 

The Third to Die was Lizzie Mae Burnett Atkins wife of Autry Van "Johnny Atkins. She Died in Mesa Arizona , Maricopa County. She was born in 1905 in Celina Tn. She born Johnny two children in their short marriage, a son named Willie jack whom died  only Days after his birth. Lizzie and son Willie jack are both buried in Van Alstyne Cemetery . Lizzie M Atkins succumbed in 1930. She was only 25 years old.

          

The 4th to die was third  born son of Elisha Joe. Joe Lee Atkins. Joe lee like James Bedford was born in Clay county Tennessee . He came to Texas with his family in 1919 as well. In 1925 he married Nancy Murley in 1925 or so. Joe Lee was a farmer by trade and attended the Church of Christ at Anna Texas. He died of Tuberculosis in 1944 at only 44 years old. he left behind three children, one of which had preceded him in death in 1929. He was buried besides his Daughter At cannon Cemetery. Picture at left  is Joe Lee, Nancy and oldest living daughter Neva.

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What got me to thinking about writing this entry was a Documentary I found on YouTube on the subject of Tuberculosis. I then realized how much it touched my own family. The Documentary Below.