Carolyn V. Atkins
September 21, 1930 - September 23, 2012
Dr. Carolyn V.
Atkins, age 82, of Jefferson City, Missouri, passed away Sunday, September 23,
2012, at the Oak Tree Villa Nursing Center in Jefferson City. She was born
September 21, 1930, in Saint Louis, Missouri, and was preceded in death by her
parents Eva Vaughn and Attorney George L. Vaughn, a prominent civil rights
attorney and state Democrat party official. A brother who was also an attorney
and a sister likewise preceded her in death.
Dr. Atkins had
an extensive career in social services including employment with several Saint
Louis and metro eastern Illinois agencies in addition to working as a
Psychological Examiner for the Saint Louis Board of Education. In 1971, she was
employed by the Missouri Department of Corrections as Superintendent of the
Tipton Correctional Center for Women in Tipton, Missouri. Following this
experience, the governor of Missouri appointed her to serve a term as the first
woman and first African American member of the Missouri Board of Probation and
Parole. She served there from 1978 to 1984 with service as board Chairperson
from 1978-1981. In 1985, Dr. Atkins joined the faculty of Lincoln University in
Jefferson City as an Assistant Professor Criminal Justice retiring in 2002 as a
tenured full Professor of Criminal Justice.
She was an
active member and officer of Union Memorial United Methodist Church in Saint
Louis and later served in numerous capacities at Quinn Chapel AME Church in
Jefferson City where at the time of her death she was a Steward Protem which is
the highest lay appointed office in the church. Additionally, Dr. Atkins was a
devoted member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority including service as president
of the Jefferson City Alumnae chapter of the organization.
From 1978-1981
she was state president of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal
Justice and served on the Missouri Corrections Association board of directors
from 1996 to 2001. On the national level she was elected to several leadership
capacities with the American Corrections Association. Locally, she was a member
of the Capital Region Medical Center Board of Governors and the Institutional
Review Board of the medical center. In 2006, the Zonta Club selected her from
16 nominees for one its two Women of Achievement awards for her outstanding
civic and community contributions.
The visitation
for Dr. Atkins will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday, September 29,
2012, at Quinn Chapel AME Church where funeral services will be held at 12:00
p.m. with Rev. Cassandra Gould officiating. Interment will follow in Hawthorn Memorial
Gardens. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church
Scholarship Fund, 529 Lafayette St., Jefferson City, MO 65101; or the Delta
Sigma Theta Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1303, Jefferson City, MO 65102-1303.
Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613
W. Main, Jefferson City, MO 65109, (573) 636-3838. Condolences may be left for
the family online at www.millardfamilychapels.com
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