In the above picture taken in 1915, Jesse Clifton Atkins is in the center of the front row.
| Atkins Family Tree | Lester Family Tree | |
| John Adkins/Atkins (1682-1763) | ||
| Mary (Maiden Name Unknown) | ||
| \/ | ||
| Francis Atkins, Sr. (1708-1798) | ||
| Wife's Name Unknown | ||
| \/ | ||
| Francis Atkins, Jr. (1738-1818) | ||
| Jane (or Jean) Yeldell (? -1818) | ||
| \/ | ||
| Thomas Atkins | Dr. Wade Lester (1800-1845) | |
| Eva (Eve) Feltin (Fellmon, Feltman) | Elizabeth Davis (1801-1890) | |
| \/ | ||
| Henry Atkins, Sr. (1806 S.C.) | William H. Lester (1824-1870) | |
| Sarah Dendy (1815 S.C.) | Charlotte Elizabeth Davis (1828-1894) | |
| \/ | \/ | |
| John Thomas Atkins (1845-1914) | Rosa Jane Lester (1864-1947) | |
| Father of Jesse Clifton Atkins | Mother of Jesse Clifton Atkins | |
| Jesse Clifton Atkins (1895-1963) |
Jesse Clifton AtkinsWorld War I began on July 28, 1914. Jesse enlisted in the Army and he received his Basic Training in Alabama. He was then sent to New York for special training at the Coast Artillery School. He graduated at the rank of Sergeant in 1915 and was transferred to the Army’s Coast Artillery Base at Fort Monroe, Virginia.
Jesse was a National Championship Football Player for the Army in the year 1915.
The first intercollegiate football game was played in 1869 at New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1915 there were approximately 100,000 men in the U.S. Army. Each company had its own team. Competition to make the team was intense. Only the best all-around athletes made the team in each company. Jesse Clifton Atkins was one of the men who achieved that distinction. Jesse played the key position of Center on his team and his team won the National Championship in 1915.
The photo on the right is a close-up picture of Jesse in his football uniform in the year 1915. Note the soft football helmets worn by the football players of that era.
Jesse married Virginia May Jarvis in the year 1918.
The photo of Virginia May Jarvis-Atkins on the right was taken in 1918.
Jesse and May had eight children as follows:
Jason Lester Atkins (Les, 1919)
Bernice Ophelia Atkins (Bernie, 1921 to 1997)
Catherine Elizabeth Atkins (Catherine, 1922 to 2004)
Gladys May Atkins (Gladys, 1924)
Edith Virginia Atkins (Gina, 1925)
James Clifton Atkins (J.C., 1927)
Thomas Gerald Atkins (Jerry, 1929 to 1931)
Jesse Lee Atkins (Lee or Tommy Lee, 1932 to 2004)
After his honorable discharge at the conclusion of World War I, Jesse went to work for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He gradually worked his way up to the position of District Manager.
From 1929 to 1934, Jesse operated his own business - the Hampton Mercantile Agency.
The Great Depression plus the untimely death of his wife in 1934, left Jesse a broken man for 1¼ years. Jesse recovered in 1935 and began working as a Line Foreman in the Hampton Shipyard. With his savings, Jesse built homes which he sold for a profit.
The photo of Jesse on the right was taken in the 1940's at his daughter's wedding where Jesse gave his daughter Edith Virginia Atkins (Gina) away in marriage.
The photo of Jesse on the right was taken in the year 1960.
Jesse died of heart failure on October 19, 1963. At the time of his death, Jesse owned rental houses, a Chiropractic Clinic, and a Barbecue Restaurant.
Jesse is buried beside his daughter Bernice at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Newport News, Virginia.
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