Obituary of Rose B. Atkins

Rose Bell Atkins (Johnson) was born on August 27, 1933 in Hopkins, South Carolina to the late Rose Bell Johnson (Sumter). Rose departed this life on May 1, 2020. Rose, fondly known to friends and family as Totsy, moved to New Jersey at an early age and attended elementary school in East Orange through 1st grade. She then moved to Newark NJ at the age of 7 where she graduated from West Side High School in 1952. Rose continued her education at Howard University for a year, and then transferred to Upsala College in East Orange, graduating with a degree in history. She earned a Masters in Education from Seton Hall University, in South Orange, NJ. Rose was baptized at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ at the age of 13. She attended Calvary Baptist Church in East Orange, NJ for many years, where she was an active member, serving as Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee, and working as a volunteer teacher with the after school program. Rose later joined Messiah Baptist Church in East Orange, NJ, where she has been a member for the last ten years. Rose married the late James Arthur Atkins on March 9, 1957. From that union they were blessed with three children, Avis, Carl and Eric. Rose worked for the Newark Board of Education for over 30 years, spending 13 years as an elementary school teacher and moved on to become a Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant working on a Child Study Team. She retired on February 1, 1995 after many years of dedicated service. Rose was very active in life. In addition to being a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she loved to read, travel, exercise, enjoyed yoga and Tai Chi, in addition to continuing some educational activities. Rose worked with adults as part of the Newark Public Library reading program. Rose was preceded in death by her son Carl Atkins. She leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved daughter, Avis (Ernest) Spann, beloved son, Eric Atkins, one grandchild, Briana Spann, cousins Nancy T. Bell, Janie Washington, Janel (Rick) Bell-Shiver, and a host of relatives and friends.