Augrie Adkins

Augrie “Audie” Adkins (Sept. 27, 1914 – Oct. 27, 1940) was a Pioneer man who died in a traffic accident near Fort Bragg, N.C. just prior to the start of World War II.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born Sept. 27, 1914 in the Straight Fork community of Scott County, Augrie Adkins was the son of Sylvester Adkins (1884-1969) and Nancy Baird (1883-1967). He had eight siblings: Evan Adkins (1905-1991), Albert Adkins (1906-2003), Thomas Adkins (1908-1985), Virgil Adkins (1910-2007), Claud Adkins (1912-2005), Janette Floyd (1917-1990), Wilford Blaine Adkins (1920-1968) and Geneva Adkins (1922-2005).

Augrie was descended from the Jellico Creek Adkins family that included Sterling Adkins, founder of the Baptist churches at Jellico Creek and Smokey Creek. (Sterling Adkins was a brother to Augrie’s great-grandfather, Jesse James Adkins.)

World War II

PFC Adkins enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. Although he was classified as a World War II casualty by the U.S. government, he died a non-combatant death stateside before the U.S. entered the war. He died from injuries sustained in a traffic accident when his motorcycle collided with another vehicle near Fort Bragg on Oct. 27, 1940. His death certificate stated that he suffered a fractured skull and internal injuries on the highway approximately five miles from Fort Bragg.

Aftermath

PFC Adkins’ body was returned to Scott County, and he was buried at Adkins Cemetery in the Straight Fork community, which is where his parents are also buried.

He is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial in Oneida, and on the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial.