Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
Early Saturday morning, November 5, 2022, Veora Hackney Atwater transitioned from time to eternity, having lived a full and faithful life serving her Lord and Savior with a steadfast heart. She was born February 8, 1936, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to Robert Louis Hackney, Sr. and Lottie Stone Hackney, the youngest of four siblings.
Veora attended public schools in Orange County and was a graduate of Lincoln High School, Class of 1955. She was married to James Atwater, Jr. Their union was blessed with a beautiful, loving daughter, Jane.
Professionally, Veora retired from Orange-Chatham Comprehensive Health Services (now known as Piedmont Health Services), where she held positions of Patient Services Assistant Manager and Data Processor of Claims.
She joined First Baptist Church (FBC) of Chapel Hill at a very early age, where her grandfather, Reverend I. H. Hackney, served as its third Pastor. She changed her membership later in life to Second Baptist Church in Chapel Hill. There she was a member of the Deaconess Ministry, the Pastor’s Aid Ministry, the Gospel Choir and was the Director of the Youth Ushers.
In 1993, she returned to FBC and immediately offered her time, talent and treasure to many ministries and auxiliaries including: the Deaconess and First Aide Ministries, the Pastor's Appreciation, Budget and Finance Committees and Teacher for the Women's Sunday School Class.
Veora was a very caring and giving person who served her community as well. She faithfully visited the elderly and the infirmed, whether in their homes, hospitals or rehabilitation/care facilities. She was a volunteer for the Orange County RSVP Caregiver's Day Out Program until she was no longer able to do so. She received recognition for her outstanding community service and volunteerism from the Today's Woman Organization, Inc. of Durham and the Hannah Ruth Foundation. Additionally, she received “The Extra Mile Award" and "The Essential Piece Award” - along with her daughter, Jane - from FBC.
Veora was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Robert L. Hackney, Jr. and Willie C. Hackney. Surviving to celebrate her living and to mourn her loss are her husband of 67 years, Mr. James Atwater, Jr.; daughter, Mrs. Jane Atwater Garrett (Donnell); sister, Mrs. Laura H. Durham (Buffalo, NY); grandson, Mr. Kyree Garrett (Tyesha); goddaughter, Ms. Tanika Allison; a devoted niece, Mrs. Eleanor C. Allison; "adopted" son and daughter, Mr. Stanley and Mrs. Valerie Foushee, and many extended family and friends.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mrs. Veora Lillian (Hackney) Atwater, please visit our floral store.