01/19/2026
Lou Atkins
Desma Louise “Lou” Thomas Atkins, 79 of Thomas Rd., Jackson Springs, died Friday, January 16, 2026 at her residence.
Funeral Service will be 2:30 PM Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at Pleasant Hill Methodist Church, with Sig Black and Chaplain Rae Ferrarini officiating.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday at Briggs-Candor Funeral Home.
Born in Durham on March 1, 1946, she was the daughter of Arthur Sherrill and Margaret Desma Brown Thomas. She attended High Point College. She played clarinet in the East Montgomery High School Marching Band and played forward for East Montgomery Ladies Basketball, scoring a record- breaking 45 points in a single game. She worked for Fred Lawrence at the start of Seven Lakes, and wore many hats during her career with Seven Lakes, Inc, and then ended as a successful poultry broker when she retired.
She is survived by her husband of 34 years Don T. Maness, her two precious daughters, Karen Lynn Atkins and Kelly Elizabeth Atkins (Robert); sisters, Beth Thomas Riddle (Dr. Gene Riddle, deceased) of Chapel Hill and Jean McDaniel (Harold) of Charlotte; Step son Terry Maness (Suzanne) and Step daughter Tara Maness Ritter, and the light of her life, grandchildren, Tripp and Shiloh Hinson, step grand children Caroline Maness, Amanda Ritter Collins, Ashley Ritter Lunsford, Alecia Ritter Breisch, Ami Cate Ritter, Aaron Ritter, great grandchildren Kayleigh Black , Cayden Black, Clint Collins Glenn Collins, and Bentley Lunsford.
Also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews and great nephews and great nieces.
But her most special survivors are her animals. Her cats Marmie, Rudy, Princess Perry, Thomas and Bella were such company and comfort in her final days. Her dogs Olaf, Iris (Big Girl) and Buddy, and the two newest rescues, Bandita Esposita and Louis Louis who were mysteriously discovered after one hospital stay at her home waiting when she was discharged, will be her final rescues and will be placed for adoption with special families.
Lou was known for her philanthropy with animals and rescues. Louise was the founder and President of Sandhills Animal Rescue League, a 501c3 non-profit she began as a private rescue to handle the growing problem of overpopulation of pets in the Sandhills area. She, being a take-charge kind of woman, decided the forgotten pets of the Sandhills were forgotten no more, and would get “FurEver Homes” by adoption through Sandhills Animal Rescue League. From her start in 1999 until she was unable to accept new foster pets in 2015 from poor health , Lou placed thousands of dogs and cats, puppies and kittens, with loving new families. Her patience and kindness guided the organization and her devotion to the spay and neuter cause made a huge impact on the pet population in the Sandhills.
Memorials may be made to the Montgomery County Humane Society, 1150 Okeewemee Rd., Troy NC 27371 or to the No Kill Shelter of the donor’s choice.
Briggs-Candor Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
At the Rainbow Bridge
Just beyond the veil of earthly care,
Where gentle breezes stir the silver air,
A bridge of every color arcs on high,
A radiant path that reaches to the sky.
She walked alone at first, her steps so light,
Freed from the burdens of the endless night.
Her heart, once heavy with the years of love,
Now lifted upward to the realms above.
And there, upon the meadow’s golden shore,
Where time no longer knocks upon the door,
A joyful chorus rose—barks, purrs, and cries—
Her faithful ones, with bright and shining eyes.
Old dogs who once had limped now bounded free,
Cats who curled in laps leaped wild with glee.
The birds she fed, the rabbits soft and small,
All gathered close, responding to her call.
They pressed against her legs, they licked her hands,
A tide of fur and feather, love unplanned.
She knelt among them, tears of wonder fell,
Whispering names she’d carried all so well.
No more the empty bowls, the quiet chairs,
No more the searching through the empty stairs
For every soul she’d cherished, every friend,
Was whole again, and waiting at the end.
Hand in paw, and heart to beating heart,
They turned together, nevermore to part.
Across the Rainbow Bridge they gently strode,
Into the arms of heaven’s open road.
Now she runs with them on fields of endless green,
Her laughter mingling with the purest scene.
A mother’s love, eternal, pure, and true—
Reunited, forever, with her faithful crew.
K.E.A.
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