Harold Alfred 'Hal & Archie' Akins, Jr

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ____________

Obituary •

Hal Akins

May 5, 1948 - Jan 8, 2021

Hal Akins, 72, of Mableton, Georgia, passed away, Friday, January 8th, 2021 at his home.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 16th at Davis-Struempf Funeral Home at 1975 East-West Connector, Austell, GA. Visitation begins at 10:30 AM. There will be no graveside service.

Hal is survived by his daughter, Amy Shemwell Hughes and her husband Rob Hughes of Alpharetta, GA and his two grandchildren, Kate and Grant Shemwell. He was preceded in death by his parents; his father Harold in 1965 and his mother Evelyn in 2020.

Archie, as he was known to his friends, was born in 1948. He graduated from South Cobb High School and attended Livingston University. Hal was a proud patriot and served in the United States Army and received the Good Conduct Medal. He was a seasoned sales professional for most of his career. Athletics and golf were his passions. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and attending their sporting events. My dad had such a big spirit and personality. He never met a stranger and seemed to know everyone. He always made everyone around him feel important. He will be dearly missed by his many friends and family.

The family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude towards anyone who plans to attend the service in person but know that we would like to have a 'Celebration of Life' event in the Spring when social distancing will hopefully be over. Memorial donations can be made to his favorite charity, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at https://www.fca.org/donate

Inurnment - Barber Cemetery in Mableton, Georgia (Jan 20, 2021)

https://www.davisstruempf.com/obituaries/Hal-Akins/#!/TributeWall

Honorary Pallbearers •

Jeff Cotton, Lewis Morris, Cliff Collins, Charlie Moller, Billy Peek, Jay Bode

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ____________

Memorial Service on Jan. 16, 2021 •

Officiating the service was Wayne Collett. Hal's close friend, Charlie Moller, spoke first recounting many stories about their friendship, playing golf, going to football games, baseball games and much more since they first met on Oct. 17, 1992, at Chapel Hills Golf Course and wearing Hal's Oakley sunglasses and saddle oxford golf shoes. Charlie also mentioned that Hal had reconnected with Sandy and spending time with her. Bobby Stevenson was the second speaker and he also told stories about the two of them. Next, the song by Lee Ann Womack, "I Hope You Dance". The last speaker was Hal's daughter, Amy H Akins Shemwell Hughes. She spoke about her loving father, shared several stories about their times together and mentioned what a loving Pap he was to his grandchildren, Kate and Grant. Amy wrapped it up with a letter she found that Hal had written to be read at his funeral. The letter had a specific message to his daughter Amy, close friends Cliff, Charlie, Jeff, Anthony, Bobby, Billy, Steve, Highball, and to his "X's".

Two Gospel songs by Elvis were played- "How Great Thou Art" & "His Hand In Mine".

At the end of the service, Rev. Wayne Collett summed up what Hal's friends said about him:

"Hal always made you laugh; he cared deeply; one-of-a-kind; never met a stranger; always had a smile, a joke and a story; never a dull moment; he loved life; he loved people and he was a great guy. If you knew Hal, you are a better person."

Part of letter Hal wrote to be read this at his memorial service:

Dear Friends and Relatives,

First of all, thanks for coming. If someone is reading this I must not be here. I guess I've passed on to another life. Please don't cry or weep with sadness. Just rejoice in the fact that we had a great time together. If you were one of my friends, you were someone special. It was a hell of a ride. I just want to tell anyone I cherished every minute of my life being your friend. I just hope I touched someone along the way.

Again, thanks for coming. By being your friend and parent, I had it all.

Sing a song, say a prayer and move on. Just look up every once in a while and I'll always be there. Thanks, Archie

Hal's comment to his "X's" in the letter he wrote to be read at his funeral:

In some way, shape or fashion, I loved you all. I'm sorry if I caused you any pain or suffering. I truly am sorry and apologize.

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ____________

SPORTS... was Hal's whole world •

Hal played sports since he could walk as a small child. Hal's love for sports was most likely engrained in him by his father, Harold, who also loved sports and was very involved in sports activities in the South Cobb community & Mableton. Football, baseball, softball & golf were his all-time favorites. As a youngster, Hal played baseball at the Lions Club in Mableton. He played football & baseball at South Cobb High School, played football for a short time at Memphis State, then transferred to Livingston University to play baseball until he was drafted by Uncle Sam. There was rarely a sporting event at South Cobb High School where you didnt see Hal on the sidelines. He coached football for Garrett Middle School during the same years Sandy taught there right after they divorced. Hal played softball most weekends until he was in his early 60's and also played a lot of golf until 2016 where he excelled with a very low handicap. Alabama football was his favorite team. He had his picture made on the sidelines of an Alabama Championship game with Lee Corso. Corso is every bit the college football lifer. From his days rooming with Burt Reynolds at Florida State, to coaching the likes of Indiana and Louisville, to being the heart of College GameDay, Corso is simply irreplaceable. Hal worked in the sporting industry most of his life where his knowledge of sports and great personality were the ingredients that made him a top-notch salesman.

On January 6, 2021, two days before Hal's death, he listened to Paul Finebaum's show for several hours. Paul Finebaum built a legion of loyal sports fans as the "Voice of the SEC" on the SEC Network.

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ____________

Comment from Tim McFarlin •

January 23, 2021

I am so sorry to hear of the passing of my friend, Hal Akins. He was one of my major football equipment providers over the past 20 years, but Hal was much, much more than a business partner. He was a true friend and I loved our many conversations about high school football, golf and many other common interest. Hal left a lasting impression on everyone he met and there is a huge empty place in my heart with his passing. From his golf shoes, to his smile and his many opinions on every topic imaginable, he was a delight to know. Who wears golf shoes to work??? Hal was an amazing person and football coaches all across Georgia will miss him greatly. We are all better for having known him. If there are golf shoes in heaven, Hal has them on. Blessings to his family and a very big thank you for sharing this wonderful man with all of us.

Tim McFarlin, Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, GA

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ____________

Census

1950 • 

Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia, United States 

Harold A Akins 1922 Georgia Lineman

Evelyn Akins 1926 Georgia Registered Nurse

Harold Akins, Jr 1948 Georgia

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ____________

AFTERGLOW •

I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.

I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,

Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.

I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun;

Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

________ೋ ღ☃ღೋ ________________

THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME •

God looked around his garden and found an empty place,

He then looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful he always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering he knew you were in pain.

He knew that you would never get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb.

So he closed your weary eyelids and whispered, 'Peace be Thine'.

It broke our hearts to lose you but you didn't go alone,

For part of us went with you the day God called you home.

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ ____________

I THOUGHT OF YOU TODAY •

I thought of you with love today

but that is nothing new

I thought about you yesterday

and days before that too.

I think of you in silence

I often speak your name

All I have are memories

and your picture in a frame

Your memory is my keepsake

with which I'll never part

God has you in his keeping

I have you in my heart.

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ____________

Hal heard this song played at Dale Earnhart, Sr's funeral and wanted it played at his funeral. •

I HOPE YOU DANCE

Song by Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin'

Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin'

Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance

(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance, I hope you dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you dance, I hope you

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ____________

If Tomorrow Starts Without Me •

If tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see.

If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today. While thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, and each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand

And said my place was ready, in heaven far above, And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye, For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for, So much left yet to do, it seemed almost impossible, that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all that we had shared, and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while, I'd say good-bye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized, that this could never be, for emptiness and memories, would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity, and all I've promised you." Today your life on earth is past, but here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day is the same way, there's no longing for the past.

So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right here, in your heart.

☆☆•*¨*•.¸¸.•*¨*•☆✞☆•*¨*•.¸¸.•*¨*•☆☆

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."

-Thomas Campbell

☆☆•*¨*•.¸¸.•*¨*•☆✞☆•*¨*•.¸¸.•*¨*•☆☆

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ ____________

Cause of Hal's Death •

Hal died from complications caused by COVID-19 turning into COVID-19 related pneumonia & lack of proper care at hospital. When the COVID-19 virus is not cured, it usually develops into a lung infection called pneumonia. If the lungs start to fill with fluid, then a person needs oxygen, which generally means hospitalization. If that is not enough, then a person can go into a danger of acute respiratory failure. The COVID-19 virus reaches the lungs and starts growing there sometimes without ever activating in the upper respiratory system or trachea. As a result, irritation and the formation of thick mucus do not occur. This is a very dangerous situation. First, the person has pneumonia and does not know it. Second, the person's ability to oxygenate the blood is reduced due to the lungs being blocked. The result is the person feels tired, weak, and, most dangerously, confused. People have had COVID-19 and died because, without a cough or fever, they did not know they were seriously ill until it was too late due to this unusual, nearly asymptomatic pneumonia.

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ____________

Comment from Paul Miller •

Feb. 24, 2021

I wish I had known Hal was sick. Maybe I could have called him and got him to go again to the doctor or hospital because COVID-19 is a silent killer. You get it and immediately it turns into pneumonia in both lungs and then it suffocates you.

Archie was a great friend and we had some great golf outings. I always enjoyed working surveillances together. I was Chase1 and he was Chase2. It always seemed like I knew what he was thinking and he knew what I was thinking. I am going to miss talking to him. Thanks again for the info and pictures. I like the picture where he is wearing the Titleist ball cap. I think that says it all about who Archie was.

Give my best to Amy. She was the apple of her Daddy's eye.

Sandy, I do feel sorry for your loss. I never thought Archie got over you and then learning y'all were planning on getting married again solidified those feelings. I believe the picture you sent where he is looking at you says it all.

Paul

(James 'Paul' Miller, Sr)

Mesquite, Texas

Investigator, Sentinel Security Services.

____________ೋღ☃ღೋ ____________