James Adkins

A good and honorable man, James M. Adkins passed away after an illness of one year. Born in Halifax, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Richard and Elsie Bradley Adkins, and was preceded in death by brothers, Percy and Hubert Adkins; and a sister, Dorothy A. Grigg. He was a member of West End Baptist Church for 46 years where he served as Sunday school teacher, Chairman of Deacons, Personnel Committee, Finance Committee, Chairman of the Building Committee, Pastor Search Committee and a Trustee. He was currently a member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church where he served as Usher, on the Property Committee, and Finance Committee. He served in the US Army during World War II and saw action in Germany, where he witnessed the death camps. He was a well-known businessman. He was the owner/operator of an electrical contracting business for 27 years. He founded and was co-owner of Adkins Lighting Center in Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia. He was educated in the North Carolina public school system, and a graduate of Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, Illinois. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. James will be remembered for his humor, his sense of fairness and a desire to leave the world a better place because he lived. He touched many lives in a positive way. He was generous, thoughtful and loving. James lived the Christian life daily. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Edna B. Adkins; a daughter, Debbie A. Edwards and husband, Mark of Midlothian; a son, James E. Adkins and wife, Karen of Disputanta; a grandson, Brandon J. Adkins; a granddaughter, Jessica Lynne Adkins; a sister, Ruth A. Aldredge of Chesapeake; a brother, Curtis Adkins of Dinwiddie; numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 14, 2013 in the Petersburg Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 3935 S. Crater Road with the Reverend Randall Hahn and the Reverend Dennis Lacheney officiating. Interment will follow in Southlawn Memorial Park, Prince George. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Crater Community Hospice, 3916 S. Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23805. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.