Ed Smith relayed a story of how Bessie and Joel had planned a secret wedding - an elopement you might say - at some friends home around Taylorsville, Georgia. They went by a church, either Flint Hill or Crossroads (Bethel), where upon the friend went into the church to ask the minister to come to his home to conduct the ceremony. Bessie's father, Joseph Dobbs, was at the church and much to Bessie's surprise showed up at the house with the minister.

During the latter 19th century, the infant mortality rate was high, and a mother expected to bury at least one of her children. Bessie was no exception, as she buried three of her 12 children prior to them reaching the age of 20 years.

Mrs. Bessie Mae Atkins, 79, 326 West 9th St., died unexpectedly Friday at 6:15 P.M. in Atlanta while visiting her daughter, Mrs. Alex McCray. Mrs. Atkins was born in Floyd County December 12, 1883, a daughter of the late Joe and Mary Dobbs and had resided here her entire life with the exception of 29 years spent in Hartselle, Morgan County, Alabama. She was a member of the Cross Roads Baptist Church in Bartow County and was preceded in death by her husband, Joel C. Atkins, in 1942.

Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Von Brock, Rome, Mrs. Alex McCary, Atlanta, Mrs. Mildred Stone, Cleveland, Ohio, and Mrs. Pauline Evans, Huntsville, Ala.; five sons, Herman Atkins, East Point, Clarence Atkins, Burney, Calif., Clifford Atkins, Des Moines, Iowa, Glenn and J. C. Atkins of Rome; two sisters, Mrs. Bertie Mull, Rome and Mrs. Ninnie Comption [sic] of Lindale. Thirty grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Monday in the chapel of Jennings Funeral Home with the Rev. H. W. Willis officiating. Interment will be in the family lot in Cross Roads Cemetery at Taylorsville. The body will remain at the funeral home and the family will receive friends there from 8 until 10 P.M. today. At other hours the family will be at the residence of the daughter, Mrs. Von Brock, 102 Pineway Drive. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers and includes, Roy, Raymond and Hugh Atkins, Bobbie Cornelison, Calvin Broome [sic] and Loyd [sic] Evans." Jennings Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.