FLORENCE ATLAS

Florence Marie Atlas of Lake Providence, Louisiana, was born on January 17, 1936, to the late Pastor Francis Joseph Atlas, Sr., and Mrs. Willie Mae Atlas. She departed this life on Friday, May 11, 2018. She is preceded in death by her brothers, Francis Joseph Atlas, Jr., Charles Weldon Atlas, Willie James Atlas, and Phillip King Atlas; and sisters, Nora Louise Atlas Jefferson and Ethel Mae Atlas.

Florence gave her life to Christ at an early age. She was a faithful member of Progressive Baptist Church and was a member of the church choir, serving as soloist.

With Florence’s parents being strong advocates of a higher education, Florence graduated from East Carroll Training School and attended Southern University. Florence also pursued a course of study to become a cosmetologist in Monroe, Louisiana. After college she became a teacher’s aide and taught in the East Carroll Parish School District for approximately 30 years. At her school retirement, she received recognition from the East Carroll Parish School District for her hard work and dedication to the teaching profession.

Florence was an avid lover of gardening and devoted daughter to her parents. She was the one child who chose to stay behind and lived at the Atlas Family’s homestead to help with the business operations of the farm. In return, she would ultimately serve as the primary caregiver for her mother and father until their deaths.

Left to cherish her memory are: her son, Steve Lawrence Atlas of Dallas, Texas; a niece whom she raised as her daughter, Dr. Shella (Larry) Atlas-Evans of Little Rock, Arkansas; two grandchildren, Derral Atlas and LaTisha Nicole Nobles; two great-nephews and three great-nieces (Shella’s children) whom she also helped to raise, Jessie Oliver, IV, Joseph Francis Oliver, LaChanda (Ben) Filter, Shavonya DaMeshea Oliver, and Erica (Ricky) Ellis-Grimes; three brothers, Lawrence Atlas, Edward Delonie Atlas, and John (Arthurlean) Wesley Atlas; two sisters, Suzie Lee Ammons and Annie Elizabeth Atlas Chatman; and a host of nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, other relatives and friends.