Archie Atkins or Adkins was an African American soldier who served in World war 1. Atkins was born in Mathews County, Virginia in either 1887 or 1892 to Josephine Ferguson and Alexander Atkins. He lived in Norfolk, Virginia before the war. Atkins worked as a fireman for the Lambert’s Point Taxer Co and supported his father.
After the war, he returned to his rented home at 826 White Ave., Norfolk and worked as a fireman on a tugboat. He had a lodger who lived with him, Mary Cousins, who ran a laundry out of their home.
Archive Atkins married Lillie, daughter of Robert and Mandy Johnson of Currituck, NC on December 21, 1927.
By 1930, they had one son, Archie Jr., who was estimated to be about 5 years old. The family lived at 629 Chapel Street, Norfolk and Lillie worked as a house maid for private families. The couple belonged to the True Vine Club, a social club with their neighbors and fellow members of the Queen Street Baptist Church.
Atkins died on August 28, 1938 at the age of 50 from lung cancer. He was buried in Mathews County, Virginia. He was survived by his wife, Lillie Atkins. Lillie passed in 1953.
Sources:
“Other 6 — no Title.” New Journal and Guide (1916-), Jul 26, 1930. http://0-search.proquest.com.library.nsu.edu/historical-newspapers/other-6-no-title/docview/567043139/se-2.
“United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJJW-9Q9 : 4 February 2021), Archie Atkins, 1920.
“United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CHPQ-NT2 : accessed 17 October 2022), Archie S Atkins, Norfolk, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 15A, line 48, family 292, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2470; FHL microfilm 2,342,204.
“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918”, database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6Z3-R85 : 23 December 2021), Archie Adkins, 1917-1918.
“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVR4-PY17 : 16 August 2019), Archie Atkins, 28 Aug 1938; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry(http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
“Virginia, Death Certificates, 1912-1987,” database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVR8-R21D : 16 August 2019), Archie Atkins in entry for Lillian Atkins, 07 Nov 1953; from “Virginia, Marriage Records, 1700-1850,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing Norfolk, , Virginia, United States, entry #, Virginia Department of Health, Richmond.
“Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940”, database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRM5-732 : 29 January 2020), Archie Adkins, 1927.