Rock Hill – Mr. William L. “Sonny” Adkins, Jr., passed away Sunday, November 26, 2023 at his farm.
Born in York County, Sonny was the husband to the late Billie Jones Adkins, “THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE” and the son of the late William Less Adkins, Sr. and Ruby Wallace Adkins. In the early 1960’s, Sonny started a business with his first sidekicks, Billie Adkins and Sam Robinson. The name of his company was Adkins Oil Burner Service, later to become Adkins Heating & Cooling, Inc. Sonny ran his business with the main priority being the care and love of his customers. He built great friendships with all of the wonderful customers he served. Sonny worked many days, nights and holidays keeping his customers warm or cool. Over the years, he raised his own workers. The children grew up and became the Adkins’ employees and as Sonny said many times, “I raised my own workers the way I wanted them to be”. Each struggle he faced was a lesson to the family on how to live a full life with no regrets and the notion to never give into the struggles. In his recent days, he spent time riding his hay fields on a mule with his Anna Belle planning for the next hay season in his head. His planning included detailed instructions for the farm hands, also his family and friends, on what was needed to be done and more importantly, how to do it right (the Sonny Way)! What a Boss he was!! Sonny wore so many different hats. He was a God loving man, a great teacher to his family, land developer of Carrollton Place, flipper of houses, provider of heating and cooling for so many, and a farmer to mention a few. But the most important roles that he filled was being a wonderful son, brother, husband, daddy, Uncle, Paw Paw and friend. What large shoes to fill!!
Sonny will be buried at Grandview Memorial Park – Cherry Road at 11:00 AM, Saturday, December, 2, 2023. Memorial service will follow at 12:00 pm at Saint John’s United Methodist Church, 321 S. Oakland Avenue with visitation to follow at the church.
Sonny is survived by his children, L. Wayne Adkins (Susan), Chris Adkins (Karen) and Sherry A. Carroll (Bobby); his grandchildren, Will Adkins (Taylor), Spencer Carroll, Pierce Adkins (Izzi), Reid Adkins (Madi), and Chloe Lee Carroll; his great grandchildren, Gadsden Adkins, Leala Adkins, and Boyd Adkins; his sisters, Carolyn Rockholt and Edna Rinehart; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Preceding Sonny in death are his wife, Billie D. Jones Adkins; his parents, Ruby Virginia Wallace and William Less Adkins, Sr., and his sisters, Patricia Dennis, Dorthy Jetton, Joyce Moore and Lou Nell Ammons.
Memorials may be made in Sonny’s name to Adnah United Methodist Church, #1 Adnah Drive, Rock Hill, SC 29732 or India Hook United Methodist Church 3300 Mt. Gallant Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732, or Agape Hospice, 1069 Bay Shore Drive, Rock Hill, SC 29730.
Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net