Carol (Jones) Ridens Atkins went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 13th. Carol was born on Christmas Day to Sam and Johnnie Rebecca (Roach) Jones. She was a third generation Texan. Her maternal great grandfather came to Texas from Tennessee in 1855 at four years of age, and the family settled southeast of Paris. Her paternal great grandfather brought his family to Blossom in Northeast Texas at the outbreak of the War between the States.

Carol attended Dallas College of Southern Methodist University. She was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and had a long career with the Denton Independent School District, retiring as Director of Budgeting and Accounting. After retirement from Denton ISD, she worked as a consultant for Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) serving as interim business personnel. She wrote the curriculum and taught the classes for the first payroll certification offered by TASBO. After retirement from TASBO, Carol served as Finance Director for the Selwyn School for ten years.

Carol was an active member of First Christian Church of Denton for many years and then later in life of First United Methodist Church of Denton. Carol's work in the Denton community included serving as a member of Greater Denton Arts Council, Denton Community Theatre Board, Fairhaven Board, Denton Area Teachers Credit Union, and Public Utilities Board of the City of Denton.

Carol was married to Charles Porter Ridens who preceded her in death in 2008. She married Frank A. Atkins in 2010. She is preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, Glenn Clayton Sr., sister Chris Skaggs, niece Nancy Skaggs McGonagill, and sister-in-law Jacque Ridens Kenner. Survivors include: husband Frank Atkins and stepdaughter Mary Katherine Atkins; brother and sister-in-law Glenn and Delia Clayton; sister-in-law Wanda Reddfell; nieces Rebecca (Sean) Kennedy, Tonya Taylor,  Kathy (Ronnie) Burrows, Judy Kelsoe Shannon, Tacy Hicks McMillan; nephews Jonathan (Konnie) Clayton, Jack (Carmen) Kenner; grand-nephews Jacob Clayton, Joe Taylor, and Padraig Kennedy; cousins Susan Lawler Davis, Leigh Davis, Jillian Davis, Nicholas Davis, and Allan (Angela) Davis, Anderson Davis,  and Aidan Davis; and many more cherished cousins, family and dear friends.

A memorial service will be held in Cole Chapel at First United Methodist Church, Denton at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 24th.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 201 South Locust Street, Denton, Texas 76201, or your charity of choice.