Obituaries

Faye Atkinson

July 31, 1941 - April 3, 2026

A graveside burial will be held on Wednesday April 15, 2026 at Eglington Cemetery in Clarksboro, NJ at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Union Presbyterian Church.

Faye Atkinson, 84 of Carneys Point, went home to be with the Lord on April 3, 2026. Born in Bridgeton, NJ on July 31, 1941 to Artemesia Gills (Nee Sickler) and Harold Downs. Faye grew up in Woodstown before moving to Florida in the early 1950s. They returned to Penns Grove, where Frank Gills built a house on 6th Ave. Faye graduated from Penns Grove Re-Hi in 1959.

Faye met the love of her life, Earl M Atkinson on the library steps and they wed in 1962. She attended Goldey-Beacom college in Wilmington, DE before she became a secretary at Flit Craft. She moved to the Sayers family farm where she became a wife, mother, and eventually housewife. They had numerous animals and grew tomatoes for the Heinz Ketchup plant in Salem among other vegetables, until retiring from the farming business in the early 70’s.

Faye enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, vacationing in Wildwood, and doing arts & crafts. She is survived by her two daughters Donna Bunting (Nee Atkinson) and Sherry Atkinson, sisters Peggy Mesmer (Dave), JoAnn Heckman (Ron) and Anne Marie Fowler (Chuck), grandchildren Tim Bunting and Kelly Bernhardt (Marcus), great-grandchildren MJ and Eli Bernhardt, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She is pre-deceased by her mother Artie and father Harold, and her husband Earl.