Jack Porter Atkinson, Jr.
1945 - 2013
Jack Atkinson, son of Jack Porter Atkinson, Sr. and Meryl Hill Atkinson, grew up in his father’s hometown of Garfield, Georgia,. His family later moved to Twin City, where he graduated from Emanuel County Institute in 1963. He then attended Emory University’s Oxford College, graduating in 1965 and then Emory University in Atlanta, graduating in 1967 with degrees in Sociology and Anthropology.
From 1967 to 1969, Atkinson served in the United States Peace Corps, assigned to Nairobi, Kenya working with the Ministry of Agriculture helping administer the national 4-K program.
After his return from Africa, he worked with the Southern Regional Office of the Peace Corps recruiting volunteers on college campuses, and also served as the Director of Training and Development for the Appalachian Child Care Project. In 1970, Atkinson married Jane Howard Martin of Springfield, Tennessee. They had two sons, Jack Porter Atkinson, III and John Martin Atkinson.
He returned to Emory in 1970 and received a master’s of divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology in 1972. He became an ordained minister in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and was Associate Pastor and Youth Director for the Covington First United Methodist Church from 1972 until 1975. Atkinson then accepted the position of registrar and social sciences instructor at Oxford College, a position he held for ten years. In 1985, Atkinson became the Director of Development for Oxford College, a position he held until 1987, when he became the Executive Director of the Association of Emory Alumni in Atlanta.
He and his wife Jane purchased the Stone House on Wesley Street in Oxford in 1973 and embarked on a restoration project of the home that was completed in 1995. They were the recipients of the first Georgia Trust Best Restoration Award in 1995. Their home was on many tours during their ownership and was featured in several magazines and articles.
Atkinson was an active member of the Oxford community, serving as councilmember from 1985 to 1987 and then as mayor from 1988 to 1994. He was also a member of the Oxford Historical Shrine Society and the Oxford Historical Cemetery Foundation. Atkinson also served on the Board of Directors and as Rambles Chairman of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and was Chairman of the National Register Review Board for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
From 1967 to 1969, Atkinson served in the United States Peace Corps, assigned to Nairobi, Kenya working with the Ministry of Agriculture helping administer the national 4-K program.
After his return from Africa, he worked with the Southern Regional Office of the Peace Corps recruiting volunteers on college campuses, and also served as the Director of Training and Development for the Appalachian Child Care Project. In 1970, Atkinson married Jane Howard Martin of Springfield, Tennessee. They had two sons, Jack Porter Atkinson, III and John Martin Atkinson.
He returned to Emory in 1970 and received a master’s of divinity degree from the Candler School of Theology in 1972. He became an ordained minister in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and was Associate Pastor and Youth Director for the Covington First United Methodist Church from 1972 until 1975. Atkinson then accepted the position of registrar and social sciences instructor at Oxford College, a position he held for ten years. In 1985, Atkinson became the Director of Development for Oxford College, a position he held until 1987, when he became the Executive Director of the Association of Emory Alumni in Atlanta.
He and his wife Jane purchased the Stone House on Wesley Street in Oxford in 1973 and embarked on a restoration project of the home that was completed in 1995. They were the recipients of the first Georgia Trust Best Restoration Award in 1995. Their home was on many tours during their ownership and was featured in several magazines and articles.
Atkinson was an active member of the Oxford community, serving as councilmember from 1985 to 1987 and then as mayor from 1988 to 1994. He was also a member of the Oxford Historical Shrine Society and the Oxford Historical Cemetery Foundation. Atkinson also served on the Board of Directors and as Rambles Chairman of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and was Chairman of the National Register Review Board for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.