Tommy lives at 101 Follette St. His birthday is March 28. Tommy likes to play football, baseball, basketball, and volleyball. (…Gary Cowling)

Graduate of Philander Smith College of Little Rock Arkansas with a BA in Social Work 1965. Graduate studies at Rutgers School of Social Work and Jersey City State College. While in college was active with civil rights movement in Little Rock - sit in demonstrations and voter registration drives. Was a member of the football team and track team. As a footballer as a freshman earned honorable mention and was selected as co-captain. The following 3 years was selected to the all conference team. 1964 was selected to the South West Challenge Bowl Team. Played football with the NY Jets in 1965, 66, 67. After leaving the Jets, continued to play football in the ACFC with the Westchester Bulls, retired from football 1976.

EMPLOYMENT: NJ Bureau of Parole as a Parole Officer 1966-1969. 1969-1974 served as Officer in Charge of the Bureau of Parole's first community based residential center for Parolees. Dec.74 to present employed with the New York State Division for Youth/Office of Children and Family Services as a Juvenile after-care worker.

Married and divorced twice - two sons, one daughter.

Tommy Atkinson Services for Tommy Atkinson, 67, of Jersey City, will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at Church of God in Christ Temple, Jersey City. He died Wednesday at Jersey City Medical Center. Born in Edward, Miss., he lived there before moving to Oberlin, Ohio, and Jersey City. Atkinson was a counselor for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for 35 years. He was a member of Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ for 26 years. He was also a member of the Pastor's Aide. He was a former chairman of the Deacon Board. Atkinson played professional football for the New York Jets. He was also a semi-professional football player for the New York Rams. He was a graduate of Philander Smith College of Arkansas and Oberlin High School, Oberlin, Ohio [class of 1960]. Atkinson was a karate instructor and held a black belt in karate. Surviving are three children, Franklin Jones, John Jones and Alona Broadway, and her husband David Keith Sr.; an adopted daughter, Lynette Evans; six siblings, Hilliard Jr., Marvin, Milton Atkinson, Emma Jackson, Edna Yarber and Margorie Davidson; and two grandchildren, Adia and David Keith Broadway Jr. The Family Funeral Home, Orange, is in charge. The Jersey Journal, Jersey City, NJ, Monday, December 24, 2007, p. A17.