Veronese B. Atkins
November 29, 1909 ~ January 27, 2014
Mrs. Veronese Beatty Atkins, 104, of Southern Pines died Monday January 27th at her home.
She was born Veronese Beatty on November 29th 1909 in Highland Park, Illinois to Mildred R. and Ross J. Beatty. Veronese was also predeceased by her two brothers, John and Ross Jr., Sister Suzanne and husband Warner L. Atkins. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Veronese studied sculpture at the Cranbrook School in Detroit and later in Chicago. After her marriage to Warner Atkins from Cincinnati she embarked on a career of horses and dogs. She owned and rode her own A-circuit Show Hunters from 1950 – 1986. In addition, she owned International Event horses and Steeplechase horses. Her horse Carrick trained and ridden by John Williams brought home the Team Eventing Bronze Medal from the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. During the 1950's through the 1980's she was an avid foxhunter with the Camargo Hounds in Cincinnati, Ohio and Moore County Hounds in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Her young horses, under the tutelage of Bobby Stevenson earned many Eventing accolades over the years. During that time she also spent many years competing top Field Trial Labrador Retrievers all over the United States. She was nationally recognized by a trophy awarded to the first woman Amateur-Owned Dual Labrador Champion (Bench & Field).
When Warner and Veronese moved to North Carolina from Cincinnati in the early 1960's she became a Trustee of the North Carolina Museum of Art, serving as Director on the Art Foundation Board. She also served as a Board Member of the North Carolina Zoological Society, Board Member of the Weymouth Center, benefactor and Board Member of the Sandhills Community College Horticultural Society, having a special garden in honor and memory of Veronese and Warner Atkins, past President and Board member of the Moore County Humane Society, founding Board Member of the Carolina Horse Park, Sponsoring The Pond House Race at Stoneybrook Steeplechase, Founding Board member of the Pinehurst Historic Preservation Foundation, and member and supporter of the Moore County Kennel Club.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3rd at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 340 S. Ridge Street, Southern Pines. Burial will follow at the Walthour Moss Foundation's Hilltop Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Veronese's Life Care Manager, Beth Dowd, Gardner and Driver, Travis Gillis, and her special home care givers, Estelle Lawson, Dahlia Singletary, and Madelyn Gilchrist for all the years of loving care.
Memorials may be made to the Village Heritage Foundation, P. O. Box 398, Pinehurst, NC 28374 for the Village Arboretum Project; Walthour Moss Foundation , P. O. Box 978, Southern Pines, NC 28388 or to Sandhills Community College Horticultural Society, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC 38274
Powell Funeral Home in Southern Pines is handling the services for the family.
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To Mrs. Atkins family, wonderful caregivers and friends, I have been fortunate to have Mrs. Atkins as my neighbor. She received such wonderful care from her exceptional team who were also her dear friends. Her loss affects us all as Mrs. Atkins was truly