From the Alabama / Georgia State Line drive West on Interstate 20 approximately 35 miles to the Anniston, Alabama Exit Number 185. Turn Right and take Highway 21 North towards Jacksonville and Gadsden, Alabama. Hwy. 431 North merges with Hwy. 21 North approximately ½ mile from the Interstate. Continue driving North through Anniston for approximately 5.9 miles and then Hwy. 431 North branches to the Left. Follow Hwy. 431 (towards Gadsden) for approximately 11.0 miles and turn Right onto Wellington Drive which is just past the small brick Wellington, Alabama Post Office on the Right side of the road. Continue for 1.0 mile, over a railroad track, to the Stop Sign at the End of Wellington Drive. Turn Right onto Alexandria Wellington Road (no street sign). Drive 0.3 miles and turn Right onto Union Church Road. Drive 0.2 miles to the Union United Methodist Church and Cemetery.

Notice the three white gravestones on the far right side of the picture.

John Thomas Atkins' gravestone is the tall white gravestone on the far right of the picture.

Martha Hollingsworth-Atkins' gravestone is the flat white gravestone broken in half and lying on the ground to the left of John's gravestone.

James H. Evans Atkins' tall white gravestone is to the left of Martha's gravestone.

John T.
Atkins
Born
Nov. 6, 1845
Died
Jan. 31, 1914
His work is done,
the victory won.

Full Name: John Thomas Atkins.
John was a teenage Confederate Civil War Soldier.
He was a Corporal in the Alabama II Corps C.S.A.
His first wife's name was Martha Hollingsworth-Atkins.
His second wife's name was Rosa Jane Lester-Atkins.

James H. Evans Atkins
Son of
Mr. & Mrs. J. T.
Atkins
Born
July 9, 1874
Died
March 1894

Laura A.
Lancaster
1868 - 1949

Annie A.
Wife of
C. G. Kershaw
Born
May 8, 1872
Died
May 26, 1935
Gone, But Not Forgotten
Kershaw

Leomas H. Atkins
Dec. 25, 1876
March 26, 1942
At Rest

Annie Atkins was John and Martha Atkins' second child. When she grew up, Annie Atkins married a Mr. C. G. Kershaw and they had a son, Royce G. Kershaw. In 1964 John’s grandson, Royce, voluntarily cleaned up Union Cemetery and then he started a Trust Fund for its perpetual care.

The Top Part of the Appreciation Sign in the Picture on the Right Says:
In Appreciation of
the Beautification of
UNION CEMETERY
By
ROYCE G. KERSHAW

If you wish to help keep this cemetery clean and beautiful, then please send a donation to the Union Cemetery Trust Fund in memory of John T. Atkins. Make your checks payable to:
Union United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 206
Wellington, Alabama 36279