Willie Wilkins

As beautiful as a rose to see, was her life she lived so gracefully. She made things precious by her touch; her selfless love lives on in each of us. The petals of her life fell one by one; each a gift of her heart till there were none. Yet her radiance blooms once again in fields of glory with no end.

Willie Bea Atkins Wilkins was born on May 24, 1942, in Grand Cane, Louisiana to her parents, Foster Lee Atkins and Ophelia Gaskin Atkins. She was the ninth child born in the family. She was raised surrounded by her brothers, Jessie, Cutee, Foster, David, and her sisters, Moteel, Darlene, Everline, Nell, Willie Bessie, Winnie, and Carrie. As a child, she enjoyed picking flowers and attending Sunday School. She and her sisters enjoyed dressing up, going fishing and playing jump rope. She received her early education by graduating from DeSoto High School in Mansfield.

Bea relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1961. On December 23, 1962, Bea united in holy matrimony to Silas Wilkins. They first met in Denver, Colorado while both were working at Rocky Mountain Hospital. When asked, Silas reflects on how much he loved her cooking. To this union, Silas Jerell and Adrian Gerald were born. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother who took great pride in the care and nurture of her family. She was later blessed with seven grandchildren, Silas Jr., Steven, Aaron, Keshon, DaShawn, Symier, and Donovan, and ten great-grandchildren, who all were an additional source of joy and pride in her life.

The family fondly remembers in 2014 taking a road trip to the Atkins Family Reunion where the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all attended and Bea joined in on a water fight and a dance off. The joy shared was priceless and memorable. By profession, Bea was employed as a Dietitian for the Rocky Mountain Hospital. She was also employed as a Child Care Provider with Bea's Day Care, where she was
the Owner and Operator. Wherever employed, she was hardworking dedicated and performed her duties with love and care.

A woman of faith and belief in the Lord, Bea was a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado under the pastoral leadership of her brother-in-law, Pastor Willie C. Jones. She served her church and the Lord as President of the Usher Board. She also served as a State School Instructor for the Churches Ushers Union of Colorado. She loved her church, her church family, and she believed in the power of prayer. She taught her children and grandchildren the importance of having the right relationship with the Lord.

Over the years, Bea has been honored by the National United Church Ushers Association, seven times. She received the King and Queen, Class C awards from 1st to 3rd place. She won the George T. Grier Drill Team Western Region 1st place award in 2008. She was awarded at the 49th Western Regional School of Ushering Floor Demonstration from 2009-2014. She received four Special Recognition awards for Outstanding Service, Dedication, and Commitment to the Churches Ushers Union of Colorado. The annual usher event was renamed the Willie B. Wilkins Fellowship in the Park.

Bea was a fun-loving woman, who enjoyed life and those she encircled. In her free time, she enjoyed bowling, traveling, and entertaining family and friends. She was an avid Denver Broncos Fan and loved the fellowship shared during Christmas and family reunions. Her closest friends, Dorothy Benjamin, Archie and Emma Hale, Margaret Hall, Agnes "Mom" Hammons, Willie House, Wanda McMillon, Marcell Mitchell, Ruth Pinkett, and Merriel Scroggins, will miss her humorous personality, her kind and giving nature and the fact that when they got together it was going to be an enjoyable "hot mess." She will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known this kind and wonderful woman.

To know Bea was to love her.

Willie B. Wilkins departed this life to the embrace of the Lord on July 14, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. Those left to cherish her memory include her loving and devoted husband, Deacon Silas Wilkins; 2 sons, Silas Jerell Wilkins, Sr. and Adrian Gerald Wilkins; a daughter, Davitta A. Wilkins; 1 brother, Jessie "Doc" Allen; 4 sisters, Moteel Susberry, Nell M. (Pastor Willie C.) Jones, Carrie Z. "PeeWee" Peoples, Winnie Y. "Von" Atkins; 6 grandchildren, Silas Jerell Wilkins, Jr., Steven Jamall Wilkins, Keshon White, DaShawn J. R.-Wilkins, Symier J. Wilkins, and Donovan T. Harris; 11 great-grandchildren; 2 brother-in-laws, Aaron (Alice) Wilkins and Charles Wilkins; sister-in-laws, Rosetta Davenport, Betty Wilkins, and Alice Williams; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.

Visitation : July 26, 2019 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
3301 Leyden St
Denver, CO

Celebration of Life : July 26, 2019 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
3301 Leyden St
Denver, CO

Interment : July 26, 2019 1:30 pm

Fairmount Cemetery
430 South Quebec Street
Denver, CO 80231

Reception : July 26, 2019 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
3301 Leyden St
Denver, CO