Jean Marilyn Akins was born on May 23, 1948, along with her twin sister June Carolyn, to Garnett and Christine Akins. She lived in the house build by her parents in Greensboro, Georgia, all her life except for the last four years when she moved to Allen, Texas, to be with her sister and her brother David (never called him brother-in-law), nephews Mark and Brian, and niece Carol and their families. Her niece and nephews, their spouses and children, were her children and she loved to spoil them.
All her life, Jean was a member of the First Baptist Church in Greensboro where she was baptized with her sister. She faithfully helped with harvesting the family gardens each summer to provide food for the family and others in need in the community. She worked in the textile industry alongside her parents until her health failed. She loved all God’s creatures – cats, fish (Charlie), hamster (Muffin), and dogs. She always had a dog as her companion and most recently her Shih Tzu Brandy.
God’s gift to her was crafting. She made many crochet afghans, beaded Christmas ornaments, pot holders, and so much more – not for herself but always to share with her family. Recently she made dozens of newborn caps for the babies at Parkland Hospital.
Jean’s faith in God was a simple trust in God’s presence and love in all of her life. Her favorite past-time was watching Charles Stanley and the Gaithers.
When her parents died, she dreamed of them every night and her heart longed to be with them. After two years of many health challenges and excellent care at McKinney Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Every night, she and June prayed together and part of their childhood prayer that began 69 years ago was “if I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Sunday afternoon August 27, her Savior slipped into her room, lifted her soul from her worn and sick body, and carried her to her new home in heaven where she is forever a child of God and now embraced by her parents.
Jean is survived by her sister June Franck and husband David; nephew Mark Hudson and son Marcus; niece Carol Holloway, husband Jim, and children Jake and Alyssa; and nephew Brian Franck, wife Angela, and children Emily, Ashlyn, Carson, and Derek; and several cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, at First United Methodist Church of McKinney, with Dr. Tommy Brumett officiating. Interment will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at Greensboro City Cemetery in Greensboro, Georgia, alongside her parents, Rev. Mark Jones, First Baptist Church, officiating.