Gordon Rush Atkeison, 1916 – 2004

Gordon was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, where he was an active member of, and subsequently ordained in, St. Francis Street United Methodist Church. After graduating from Birmingham Southern College, Gordon traveled around the United States working as an actor, newspaper journalist, radio personality, and high school English teacher. After returning to Mobile, he was employed by the GM&O Railroad. Gordon married Leo Wise in 1943, and they moved to Durham, N.C., so Gordon could attend Duke University Theological Seminary — the first of many moves! Following is a brief summary of his long career:

1944 – Clover, Virginia	1959 – Madison, Virginia
1946 – Spotsylvania, Virginia	1960 – Batesville, Virginia
1949 – Grove Hill, Alabama	1964 – Melfa, Virginia
1951 – Century, Florida	1966 – Dry Fork, Virginia
1952 – Alabama/West Florida	1967 – Emmerton, Virginia
Conference-wide Evangelist	1969 – Retired
1953 – Castleberry, Alabama	1970 – became funeral director
1954 – Hurtsboro, Alabama	in Arlington, Virginia
1955 – Brundidge, Alabama	1982 – Retired, and moved to
During the 1950s, also spent time	Atmore, Alabama
each year preaching in Cuba,	Gordon subsequently served as
Guatemala, and Costa Rica	a "substitute preacher" in south
1956 – Marion Indiana, to work	Alabama and north Florida, then
with World Gospel Missions	accepted appointments to
1958 – Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico	serve full-time in Lottie, Perdido,
& Dallas, Texas	and Bay Minette, Alabama. Only
(left WGM due to ill health)	during his last few years was
	Gordon actually retired.

This list is impressive, but in no way does it begin to illustrate what an adventure it was to share Gordon’s life! He loved music and shared his musical talents generously until the last couple of years. He was a scholar and loved words — their sounds, their meanings, and the stories they could tell. His sense of humor still has us laughing, and he passed on his expertise in puns to his children and grandchildren.

  Gordon is survived by his wife, Leo, and daughter Sarah Atkeison, in Atmore, Ala.; his son Bill (and wife Kathy) in Mobile, Ala.; his son John, in Wilmington, Del.; granddaughters Billie (& Stacy) Dooms in Richmond, Va., and Jessica (& Clint) Woods in Albuquerque, N.M.; and three great-grandchildren. We miss him!