Dr. James Oscar “J.O.” Atkinson was a native of North Carolina born in 1867 in Wake County. Atkinson graduated from Wake Forest College in 1890, and went on to earn a master’s degree from Harvard University (Class of 1893) where we studied religion and philosophy. After earning his degrees, Atkinson went on to become a pastor of Elon College Church from 1897-1917 where he was passionate about the welfare of the Afro-Christian Convention as well as Women’s church organizations. Atkinson became the Dean of Faculty at Elon University in 1903 and also taught classes on political economy, sociology, psychology, ethics, as well as Latin and Greek. After leaving his position as Dean of Faculty in 1905, he went on to join Elon’s board of trustees where he was a member from 1914 till his death in 1940. Atkinson (73) died at St. Leo’s hospital in Greensboro after suffering from a brief illness. He was interred into Magnolia Cemetery in Elon following his funeral.