Obituary of Selma Atkins

If she were to tell it, Selma Elizabeth was born to the best parents God ever created, John and Grace Smith, in Philadelphia, PA on August 9th, 1937.  She loved her parents and spoke of their sacrificial care and wisdom almost every day.  Even on the day of her death, June 27, 2019 she softly mentioned how she was so ready to see them, and her grandmother, and Jesus.  In true Philadelphia style, she’s showing us what an Independence “In Jesus” Day celebration is really all about!

Selma loved learning and excelled in school.  In 1955 she graduated from the prestigious Philadelphia High School For Girls and went on to earn her Master’s Plus 30 in Education from Temple University where she was on the Dean’s List.

In 1993, she retired from a distinguished career as a dedicated Philadelphia public school teacher. During that time, Selma also established the first Literacy Program at the Deliverance Bible Institute in North Philadelphia to serve the learning needs of adults looking to better themselves through education and spiritual enrichment. Watching her adult students turn their lives around was a great source of pride to which she was singularly devoted. 

Selma was also a gifted musician playing piano and organ for churches, choirs, and groups and even briefly fronted a jazz trio, The Bird Trio, in the 1950s. After retirement, she borrowed a portable keyboard from her daughter and faithfully brought the word and musical programs to the Voorhees Center nursing home as a missionary with the Bethany Baptist Church.  Selma’s artful flair and love for the beauty of nature was always expertly demonstrated by her “Lawnside Gardens” at Carver Court, her calligraphy works of art that she’d briefly started a business for, and her doll house masterpieces that she poured over in great detail to delight her grandchildren.

Most importantly though, Selma loved her family – biological and “adopted”. Every holiday and birthday was a time to decorate and cook and gather everyone around for laughing and eating and singing and praying …and love.

“By this they will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

Selma is now singing with her two sisters, Jean and Rita, her mother and father, and granddaughter Grace who preceded her in death.  She is survived by her brother John Jr., her two daughters, Dorothy and Jacqueline, her beloved grandchildren Lauren, Jordan, and Lindsay (Nathaniel), her precious great-grandbaby, Olivia, her bonus son David, her extended family and a host of dear friends, students, associates, and co-laborers in the ministry.

“Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”  Proverbs 31:29,30