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Funeral services for Reverend S.A. “Sonny” Adkins will be conducted at 11:00am Thursday, December 01, 2022, at the Goodwater Baptist Church in Magee, MS. Interment will follow in the Oakvale Cemetery in Oakvale, MS.
Reverend Adkins, age 81, claimed his eternal reward on Thursday, November 24, 2022, at Simpson General Hospital in Mendenhall, MS.
The family will receive friends from 9:00am until the hour of service at 11:00am at Goodwater Baptist Church.
S.A. “Sonny” Adkins was born on February 06, 1941, to parents Sylvester Aaron Adkins and Margaret Burkett Adkins Polk. As a young boy, Sonny lived in Ellisville, Stringer and Pascagoula. He graduated from Prentiss High School, William Carey College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Sonny married the love of his life, Irby Jean Bourn Adkins, and they were blessed with two sons, Scott Aaron Adkins (Carey) of O’Fallon Illinois and Jon Eric Adkins (Lauren) of Magee, MS. Sonny and Jean were married for 61 years. Called into the ministry at age 14, he would soon be leading youth revivals at Oakvale Baptist Church and churches in Lawrence and Jefferson Davis counties. Sonny served churches as pastor of Avery (Greene County, MS), Centerville (Tylertown, MS), Edna (Columbia, MS), Calvary (Silver Creek, MS), Central (McComb, MS), Spring Hill Avenue (Mobile, AL), Rocky Creek (Lucedale, MS), New Hebron (twice) and Forest Baptist Church. Sonny served as a vocation evangelist for 8 years traveling from the East Coast to the American West preaching the saving grace of Jesus. Brother Sonny was well known for delivering his sermons with energy and passion as he followed the assignment of The Great Commission. He was the Director of Evangelism for the Mississippi Baptist Convention for 9 years. He was on the Executive Board of the Mississippi Baptist Convention and served as Trustee for the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for two terms. He was privileged to travel on preaching trips to Brazil, Japan, China, Venezuela and Zimbabwe, South Africa. Although he served in numerous capacities on the local, state and national levels for the Southern Baptist Convention, Sonny was an avid sports fan, especially the Ole Miss Rebels! He often jokingly would call for “special prayer” for any and all Mississippi State fans. He enjoyed years of serving as a high school football official and was the football announcer for the New Hebron Golden Bears. He also enjoyed playing golf with his friends and church members. After retiring from the active pastorate in 2007, Sonny and Jean continued ministering in interim pastorates throughout Mississippi. It was noted in a family Bible that 1 Peter 5:2-4 describes their ministry.
Sonny adored his four grandchildren – Hannah, Michael, Isaiah and Waters. Great granddaughter, Presley Ross. Sister-in-law, Willie Fay Thomas (Joe). His nephews – Charles Raymond Boutwell, Emmitt Ray Williamson (Miriam), Larry Williamson (Pam), Timmy Williamson (d.) and niece, Jean Turnage (Pat).
In lieu of flowers, love offerings may be made to Guidestone’s Mission:Dignity (https://www.guidestone.org/mission-dignity), Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (https://mbcb.org) and Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org).
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