- Date Of Birth: May 19, 1938
- Date Of Death: November 7, 2022
- State: Pennsylvania
On November 7th at 2:17pm, Rev. Canon Joel Atkinson, 84, peacefully breathed his last at home surrounded by loved ones. Joel lived a full life dedicated to serving others.
He was born at home in Florida to Joel Sr. and Helen (Akins) Atkinson, and he grew up in Wildwood, Florida. After attending Florida State University, Joel served in the Peace Corps in Somalia and the United States, which transformed his worldview. He then lived and worked in Jeddah as an ESL teacher, and in Beirut and Bahrain as a banker. After returning to the US, he worked for the State of Florida where he established their Section 8 housing program. After that, he found his calling in the Episcopal Church, attending Seabury Western Seminary and was later ordained a priest. He married Josie Myers in 1985, and they had two sons. He worked in several churches, including Blackstone VA for eight years, before settling in Bethlehem at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity. At the Cathedral, he worked as the outreach minister until his retirement. His work was constantly among the least fortunate of the community, serving them. After retirement, he continued to work at St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s in the Slate Belt.
Father Joel loved reading, anything from mysteries to theology, physics to politics, and, when his sons were children, bedtime stories. He loved traveling and learning about the world. He loved researching genealogy and composing poetry. He loved to cook and to eat, especially southern food like his annual New Year’s Day feast of black-eyed peas, collard greens, corn bread, tomato gravy, and ham. He loved watching sports, especially Florida State football. He loved talking and discussion. He loved all people and all cultures. As a priest, he believed in universal salvation, the humanity of all people, and the unending struggle for a just world.
Joel’s biggest joy was his family: his wife, Josie, his sons Joel III and Leo Andrew (Kelsey Morrison), his sister Gaye (Dick) Mitchell, her children Kimberly (Jay) Kupiszewksi, Robin (David) Mitchell, and Quinn (Jordan) Mitchell, many great-nieces and nephews, his sisters in-law Sara (David Petersen) Myers, Amanda Myers, Rachel (Rob) Minteer, and often anyone he spent more than 10 minutes in conversation with.
We have so much more to learn from him.
All are welcome.
