Timmonsville- Marion Leslie "Buddy" Atkinson, age 80, passed away on July 22, 2015 at the Williamsburg Regional Hospital.

Buddy was born in Elliott, SC, to the late Charlie Leslie Atkinson and Lucille Rogers Atkinson. He was raised in Sumter and graduated from Edmunds High School.

Early in his career, he was employed by Farmer's Telephone Company. He soon turned his hobby and life-long passion for Tennessee Walking Horses into a full-time business. Over the next 50 years, he became a well-known owner, exhibitor, trainer, boarder, and breeder. He received many awards in the walking horse industry, including the South Carolina Professional Horseperson of the Year, presented to him by South Carolina Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. He was recognized as the Trainer of the Year and was awarded membership into the SCWHA Hall of Fame. Buddy was known for his witty humor and quips. He was a man of few words, but his words were thoughtful and conveyed wisdom and understanding. He loved Old West Cowboy books and movies, but most of all he loved spending time with his family.

He is survived by his best friend and companion Laretha "Pinky" Logue; his four children, Michael Leslie Atkinson (Jacque) of Timmonsville, Cynthia A. Hales of Timmonsville, Sonya A. Secor (Dean) of Mt. Pleasant, and Lynn A. Semones (Steven) of Christiansburg, Virginia. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, Beth Atkinson, Cameron Atkinson, James Fisher, Jack Fisher, Cassidy Wynn Hales, Grace Secor, Ashleigh Secor, Grayson Semones, Brody Semones, and Wyatt Semones; one great-grandchild, Skyler Miller; his brother and sister-in-law, William "Billy" Hoyt Atkinson and Loretta of Sumter; his nephews Bill and Charles Atkinson; dear friend and mother of his children, Brenda Mosier Douglass of Moneta, VA ; his special "children" Roni Atkinson of Florence and Andy and Laura Waites of Hattiesburg, MS and their children Lilly, Logan and Troy; and many friends and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents and nephew Matthew Atkinson.

The family would like to thank Dr. Troy Gamble and the nursing and hospital staff at Williamsburg Regional Hospital and Stacey Mosier and the swing bed unit nursing staff at Clarendon Health System for their gracious care and support.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 pm Saturday, July 25, at Layton-Anderson Funeral Home, Florence with Dr. Eugene T. Mosier presiding. The family will gather and receive friends immediately following services from 5:00-6:00 pm at Layton-Anderson Funeral Home. You are invited to sign the guestbook at laytonandersonfh.com

The family will receive friends at other times at the home of Cindy A. Hales.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the South Carolina Walking Horse Association Scholarship Fund, SCWHA , c/o Darren Sisk, 1460 Green Pond Hwy., Walterboro, SC 29488 or to Williamsburg Regional Hospital Foundation, c/o Tammy Erwin, 500 Nelson Blvd., Kingstree, SC 29556.