William A. "Bill" Atkins

William Austin “Bill” Atkins went home to be with his Lord and Savior on June 30, 2024. Once known affectionately as “Mr. Smyrna”, Bill was considered a modern-day Renaissance man. He will be remembered not only for his winning smile, quick wit, and easygoing personality but also for his genuine concern for others. A Mercer University School of Pharmacy graduate, Bill began giving back early in life. As a member of the United States Army Medical Corps, he served his country honorably. His service to his community was even more extensive. 

As the pharmacist and owner of Atkins Pharmacy, first in downtown Smyrna, then later on Concord Road, Bill became a trusted member of his hometown. Word spread among his customers, local leaders, and statewide politicians that Bill could be counted on for his honest opinion and trusted advice. That trustworthiness led to his being elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives. After serving twelve years in the General Assembly, Bill stepped down to become Georgia’s “Drug Czar” when he accepted the position as the state’s Director of Drugs and Narcotics. He held that position until he retired from public life. Along the way, Bill served on many prestigious boards and was the recipient of many impressive honors. Most notably, he served as Chairman of both the Cobb County Planning and Zoning Board as well as the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy. Bill was especially honored to have a road in Smyrna, “Atkins Way” named after him. However, one of his proudest moments was when the bridge over I-75 at Windy Hill Road and Truist Park was named the “William Austin Atkins, Sr.” bridge. He felt that it was a testament to how much he loved Smyrna, and how much Smyrna loved him. Besides his love of politics, Bill had a love of music and entertainment. He was the lead singer and songwriter for “The Bill Atkins Band”. In addition to performing at countless political events, “The Bill Atkins Band” provided the entertainment for numerous charity events and raised thousands of dollars on their behalf. Born in 1933 in Tate, Georgia, Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Austin and Gladys Atkins, sister, Babe Atkins Byrne, and first wife, Mary Jo Ellerbee Atkins. He is survived by his second wife, Jennifer McGahan Atkins; son Chip (Ruthann) Atkins, daughter Paige (Dan) Post, step-son Justin (Elizabeth) Yarbrough, and step-daughter Stacy Yarbrough; grandchildren Will, Tate, Ari, Ryder, and Tanner; step-grandchildren Olivia, Everett, Tanner, and Claire; brothers Gene (Harriett) Atkins, Gary (Anne) Atkins and sister Sharkey (Bob) Gill; and many nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill’s honor can be made to Must Ministries or the William Atkins Scholarship Fund at Mercer School of Pharmacy.

Below is the link to the College of Pharmacy donation page. Ask the donor to use the drop down menu and select “other fund” and enter the name of the scholarship directly. Simply Copy and Paste it.

 https://web419985.campusnet.net/OnlineGiving_376/site/donate.aspx?siteid=ac13cd09-b997-4f69-9810-3c0e2640618f&LinkID=d73e8b0b-45d2-4313-b2ba-270e7ec33b8d