William "Ed" Atkins

Mr. William Edgar “Ed” Atkins, age 91, of Mt. Airy, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2026 at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson. He was born on October 10, 1934 in Henry County to the late Marlin and Annie Lemons Atkins. Ed began his career at Russell Church Studios in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as an apprentice in the early 1960's, specializing in the creation of stained glass church windows. Subsequently, he purchased the company and relocated the business to Mount Airy in the early 1970's. He possessed an exceptional and distinctive talent for rendering biblical narratives vividly in glass, and he took immense pride in his craftmanship for over six decades, designing and installing beautiful church windows throughout the southeast. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Rita Willard (Jessica); grandchildren, Natalee and Allie Hinson; nieces, Denise Atkins, Mary Ann Freeman (Mitchell), Tammy Hiatt, as well as several great-nieces and nephews; and three great-great- nieces; two great-great-nephews; sister-in-law, Rhonda Brinkley. In addition to his parents, Mr. Atkins was preceded in death by his wife, April Ashburn Atkins; son, William Mark Atkins; sister, Magdelene Atkins; brother, James C. Atkins. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mt. Airy with service conducted by Pastor Zane Fishel. A private inurnment will be held at a later date. The family will receive friends on Thursday afternoon from 12:30 PM until the time for the service at the funeral home.