J.C. Akins

J.C. Akins, 88, died February 5th, 2004. J.C. Akins was born May 17, 1915 in Duluth, Georgia and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia during the Great Depression. At the age of nine, in order to help support his family, he left school and peddled vegetables on the street with his father. At age 12, he started working as a paper carrier for the Atlanta Journal. He was first promoted to the Complaint Desk and then continued on to become the City Circulation Director. During this time, he married Millie Gene Adcock on January 11, 1936 in Atlanta. He worked at the Journal until 1951 and then brought his family of seven to St. Petersburg, Florida to accept the position of Circulation Director of The Evening Independent. He remained with the Independent through 1954. Mr. Akins and his family became members of the First United Methodist Church in 1951. In late 1958, Mr. Akins fulfilled his life-long dream of designing and building his first car wash, Presto Car Wash on Pasadena Avenue. In doing so, he became one of the early pioneers in the full service car wash industry. He and his wife worked side-by-side for three years to grow their business before Mr. Akins was diagnosed in 1962 with malignant melanoma. After being told he wouldn?t survive the disease, Mr. Akins decided to sell Presto Car Wash and he and his wife traveled extensively throughout Europe. They boarded the S.S. France with their Porsche and spent three months touring thirteen countries. Upon their return, they traveled throughout mainland U.S. and Hawaii. By 1966, Mr. Akins, having survived cancer, began to develop plans for building the Eldorado Car Wash on North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. In 1967, the Eldorado opened and Mr. Akins was acknowledged throughout the car wash industry as ?the most successful car wash operator east of the Mississippi?. In time, Eldorado Car Wash became the third highest volume car wash in the country. Mr. Akins became a member of the International Car Wash Association and the Southeastern Car Wash Association. In 1990, he was awarded the distinctive ?Lifetime Achievement Award? by the Southeastern Car Wash Association. In early 1991, he unfortunately had to sell the Eldorado to the Grand Prix chain after suffering from a heart attack. He accepted a position on the Grand Prix Board of Directors for several years until his health would not allow him to continue. Mr. Akins and his wife remained active members of the First United Methodist Church for over 52 years. Mr. Akins love of life and the possibilities of what he could achieve and experience was boundless. He was a self-taught scholar and an astute business entrepreneur. He approached life with both determined zeal and endearing humility. He was deeply inquisitive and was continuously studying the world and its peoples. He had a lifelong passion for sports cars and sports car racing. His knowledge of racing and the history of racing cars was vast. He delighted in his collection of distinctive racing cars. He enjoyed attending races at Sebring and Indy. He treasured the land and beauty of the mountains of his beloved Foxwood, the retreat he and his wife built on hundreds of acres in North Carolina. He never tired of hiking with his wife in their woods. Mr. Akins was a kind and thoughtful mentor to many. The little boy who peddled vegetables had infinite dreams. The man he became fulfilled them. He loved life as a he loved his family, with his whole heart. He will be forever missed. He is predeceased by his only son, Chadwick. Mr. Akins is survived by the love of his life, Millie, married for 68 years, and four loving daughters, his daughter Sue A. and her husband Charles Martin, his daughter Judith A. and her husband Gary Brown, his daughter Jill A. Cullum, his daughter Jane A. and her husband Richard Lane. He is predeceased by his parents Reverend & Mrs. C.C. Akins, and one son-in-law, Richard Owen Cullum. Nine grandchildren: Joel Martin, Corydon Martin, Jonathan Martin, Gary Brown, Jr., Lauren Glass, Chad Cullum, Matthew Cullum, Jennifer Lane and Amanda Lane Brown. Twelve great-grandchildren: Joshua Martin, Julia Martin, Charlotte Martin, Ethan Brown, Emma Brown, Ariel Adams, Emily Cullum, Zachary Cullum, Austin Putnam, Owen Cullum, Erica Abramo and Sara Abramo. He was predeceased by one great-grandchild, Jacob Cullum. Visitation will be Sunday Feb. 8th from 4:00PM ? 6:00PM at Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home-Ninth Street Chapel, 2201-9th St. N. The Funeral Service will be 2:00PM on Tuesday Feb. 10th in the Main Sanctuary at First United Methodist Church, 212 3rd St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either: The Hospice Foundation of the FL Suncoast, 300 East Bay Dr., Largo, FL 33770 or to The Music Ministry at the First United Methodist Church. Online guestbook @ www.andersonmcqueen.com