Rebecca Russell,Harper, Laird ,Atkinson daughter of George and Mabel Heacock Russell"Rebecca 'Betty' Russell Atkinson was born in Salem, Ohio, on September 29, 1912, to Mabel Heacock Russell and George Russell. She moved to Sebring, Fla. in the fall of 1925 with her mother and two sisters, Alpharetta (Merwin) and Carol (Merwin). Betty married Gerald T. Harper, her first husband, September 25, 1937, and their only child Joseph was born in September 1938. Gerald served in World War II as a Lt. Cmdr. and separated from service in 1947. Following Gerald' s untimely death in 1948, Betty returned to Sebring. She resided there until September 2004, when she moved to the Lourdes Noreen McKeen Towers in West Palm Beach, where she lived until her death on Easter Sunday morning March 23, 2008. In March 1950, Betty married Lt. Col. Joseph M. Laird, USA (Ret.) an intelligence officer and member of Army General Staff at the Pentagon during World War II. He retired and moved to Sebring in 1945, having served 31 years. Col. Laird passed away in 1960. Betty managed the S & H Green Stamp Store in Southgate Shopping Center from 1963 through 1977. Upon retirement, she married Col. William J. Atkinson, USA in 1977. From 1965-1995, Betty was the "Memorial Chairman" for the American Heart Association of Highlands County. She joined the Women' s Club of Sebring in 1951, served on the Board until 1984 and was a life member. She was a charter member of the Fezzettes of The Highlands Shrine Club. She has been a member of Gold Star Wives since 1963, and she was a member of the South Central Florida Chapter of Retired Officers Association. Betty was a charter member of the Sebring Historical Society since 1968. She served as Memorial Chairman from 1981 to 2001. She and Allen Altwater shared their devotion to preserving the history of Sebring. Betty identified a number of Allen' s pictures and encouraged him to continue his writings. Betty and Edna Pearce Lockett were lifelong friends from their days at Sebring High School in the late 1920' s. Edna Pearce was the second or third woman elected to the Florida Legislature. Betty helped Edna with her campaign and visited her in Tallahassee on several occasions. Betty and her family spent many holidays with Edna at her P4 Ranch. Betty is survived by her loving son, Joseph T. Harper (Mary) of Juno Beach; three grandchildren, Kimberly A. Harper (David) of West Palm Beach, Mary H. Czajka (Joel) of Stuart, James E. Hatch, III (Gloria) of Palm City; two great-grandsons, Johnathan T. Hatch and Michael DelSontro of Palm City; sister, Carol Merwin of Sebring and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 27, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church of Sebring, followed by burial in Pinecrest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sebring Historical Society or to Hospice of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach."Contributor: Rachel Farrell