Marilynn Atkinson (Fairly) was born November 8th, 1928 and passed from this life to her Reward on December 9th, 2021.
In her life she served and taught all those who came after her to serve. In 2010 when her Graddaughter and her husband, Suzy & Shawn Brewer, told her their plans for adoption, she did not hesitate to help with the home study expenses to get the ball rolling. She knew that her Granddaughter and her husband always wanted to be parents and had faith that this was the route that it would happen. She was thrilled to find out about Sacred Selections and their mission to help Christian families be able to afford the tremendous expense of adoption. After Shawn and Suzy had completed their homestudy and a few months of waiting, in March of 2011 they received a call from their agency that a birth mother had chosen their profile. In a conference call on March 25th, the birth mother let them know she did not know the gender of the baby. They received a call again very early on March 26th that the birth mother that had chosen them was in labor. They got in their car and drove quickly towards Florida. When they got to the Florida state line they received a call that birthmom had had a precious girl. Suzy and Shawn decided to name her Marilynn, after the woman who had helped them and supported them so much throughout the years and with the eventual adoption of their first child. This is the picture of them together.
Two years later she was also a solid supporter of the adoption of their second child, William, who she was never able to meet in person because of medical complexities but talked to frequently on the phone and video chat. It was always clear that she loved them both dearly and was able to video chat with them the Monday before she passed away, so the last words they all heard her say was “I love you”.
One of the wishes of her family is that she is remembered for the service she always gave to others without question and without fail, that in her death that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Sacred Selections to help Christian families be able to afford adoption.