OBITUARY: Patsy Cushman “MaPat” Atkins

Patsy Cushman “MaPat” Atkins, 89, passed peacefully into eternal life on October 13, 2026, after a brief illness.

Patsy was born in Cheap Hill, Tennessee on June 18, 1937, to parents G.W. and Margaret Cain Cushman.

In addition to her parents, Patsy is preceded in death by her husband, Jim Atkins, whom she married on July 19, 1954; her son, Cushman Atkins; son-in-law, Wayne Shearon, Jr.; and sister-in-law Kathy Forbes Cushman.

She is survived by her sons John Atkins, Hugh (Laura) Atkins, and George (Kim) Atkins; daughter Patrice (Craig) Empson; brother Tom Cushman; grandsons Scott (Dawn) Atkins, Trey (Joanna) Shearon, Bryant (Anna) Shearon, Jonas (Chelse) Atkins, Thomas (Hannah) Atkins, Sean Atkins, Patrick (Taylor) Atkins, and Jackson (Kati) Atkins; granddaughter Alyssa (Nathan) Franks; niece Angela Cushman; daughter-in-law, Beresha (John) Atkins; brother-in-law Arvel (Barbara) Atkins; sister-in-law Doris Cathey; and 13 great-grandchildren with another on the way.

MaPat, also affectionately known by many as “Craig’s Mother-In-Law,” loved her family and was an avid reader and a lifelong baseball fan, following the Atlanta Braves and the Vandy Boys through the bad years as well as the good. She was a member of the Cheatham County Central High School Class of 1955 and was in the Beta Club. She was a member of the Cheap Hill Church of Christ.

Max Vick will conduct services at 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 17, at Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Pleasant View. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00 AM until the hour of service.

Burial will follow in Mallory’s Cemetery in Thomasville with Bro. Phillip McGahey officiating; grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Cain, Ann Carney, Nathan Franks, Pete Krantz, Alan Kulkin, Lanny Morrison, Peggy Tackett, Murriel “Fuzz” Walker, Billy Wray, and Alton Denny, Don Harris, Billy Sykes, and the other surviving members of the CCCHS Class of ’55.

The family would like to thank the staff at Vantage Pointe Village for their loving care, especially Wes, Robbie, Kyle, Doris Ann, and Katie. Thanks also to the cardiology team at Centennial Medical Center as well as the staff at Alive Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Patsy’s name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Cheatham County Friends of the Library, or the charity of your choice.

For more obituaries visit our obituaries page.

This obituary was published by Austin & Bell Funeral Home, Pleasant View.

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