Charles "Charlie" Rydner Atkins Jr.

Mr. Charles R. "Charlie" Atkins, 32, of St. Simons Island entered into rest on Monday, March 26, 2012. Charlie was born on Feb 12, 1980 in Augusta, GA. Affectionately known as "Charlie-Bo" by the Augusta crowd, he and his family moved to St. Simons in 1987 and changed his title to "Saltwater Charlie". Shortly afterwards, it was clear that this would be his home from that point forward. Charlie was blessed. He knew what he wanted out of life, “to bring happiness to others, to be helpful to others, to have good, trusting friends and to enjoy life.”

While he may not have always expressed it, he truly felt a great deal of personal satisfaction in knowing that he had made someone happy. His great attitude was infectious.

Charlie graduated from Glynn Academy in 1998. He graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2005 with a Business Degree in Entrepreneurial Management.

Much like his grandmother Atkins, food and beverage work was his calling. He loved building his patron base, meeting new people and seeing folks enjoy themselves.

Charlie was christened as a Catholic at St. Mary's on the Hill Catholic Church in Augusta. He attended St. Simons Island Community Church.

At the time Charlie left us, he was one of the working managers at Brogen’s in The Village. He loved his job and all of those he worked for and with throughout the island.

Charlie is survived by the love of his life, Ashley Stone and his parents, Chuck and Joan Atkins; his sisters, Lisa Atkins Flowers (Mark) of Waynesboro, GA, and Jennifer Atkins Manser (Robert) of St. Simons; A grandmother Annie Marie Murray of Augusta, GA; His nieces, Mallory and Murray Flowers and Macie Manser; his nephews, Price Manser and Marshall Flowers.

The family will receive friends Thursday March 29 from 6-8pm at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday March 30 at 2pm at the Minnie A Strickland Auditorium at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island with Monsignor John Kenneally and Reverend Justin Yawn officiating.

Honorary guests at the service will be Christopher Allen, Ben Allen, Mark Popwell, Clay Strother, Jacob Melton, Rusty Tucker, Ned Hastings, Jim Parmalee, Brad Campbell, Nelson Ryan, George Biddar, Bobby Wells, the staffs of Brogen’s, Bennie’s Red Barn, Catch 228, and Bubba Garcia’s as well as the Glynn Academy Class of 1998. The family requests Island Casual attire be worn at the service.

We know that it is Charlie's request that if anyone is considering sending flowers, he would prefer you instead, make an in kind donation in his memory to the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast GA, P.O. Box 1193, Brunswick, GA. 31521

Charlie’s arrangements have been placed into the care of Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home and Oglethorpe Crematorium. Please visit Charlie’s online guestbook at www.edomillerandsons.com