School grants scholarship to 6-year-old son of slain single father

As relatives prepared funeral services for the single father of a 6-year-old boy, school administrators were making sure the victim's son has the education his father wanted.

David Atkins, 43, of the 1600 block of Staub Street in Nicetown, was gunned down early Saturday morning after he was awakened by a knock at the door. The motive for the shooting remains a mystery to investigators, who believe the son witnessed part of the attack.

Today, family and friends will attend services for Atkins, a former altar boy who worked as a glass cleaner for Wachovia and a security guard at Temple University Hospital to send his son, David, to St. Martin de Porres Interparochial School.

Several years ago, Atkins was widowed when his wife died of illness. Since his son started school, Atkins had been seen daily dropping his son off in the morning and picking him up in the evening, said Sister Cheryl Ann Hillig, the school's principal.

"David was all he had. Wherever you saw dad, you saw David," Hillig said. "David was very sensitive to the fact that he did not have a mother and that his father was working very hard to send him to school."

This week, the school told relatives that David could remain at St. Martin's on a full scholarship through the end of the year. Hillig said a scholarship fund has been established to collect money for future tuition.

Checks can be made payable to the David Atkins Memorial Fund, sent to the attention of Hillig at St. Martin's, 44 W. Logan St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19144.

The first checks arrived at the school yesterday.

"It's heartwarming," Hillig said. "You can tell it's from people who are probably on fixed income who want to do what little they can to help."

Patrick McKenzie, director of campus ministry, said Atkins and his son were the first to arrive at a potluck dinner last week for a black history program. Atkins, he said, took great interest in his son's education and was involved with his studies as well as volunteer programs.

"He walked him to the door every morning, which I think really reflected how much he loved his son and wanted the best for him," McKenzie said. "He's a great kid, chock-full of positive energy."

Hillig and McKenzie both said David is interested in learning and doing well with his studies.

"When he's asked to do something, he does his best to do it right," Hillig said. "He really is an amazing kid."

David attended classes early in the week, and the school provided counseling for him and others coping with the loss. Although David is "not necessarily himself," McKenzie said it doesn't appear that he fully understands what happened.

Services for Atkins will be held today with a 10 a.m. viewing at Tenth Memorial Baptist Church at 19th and Master Streets. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m., with burial to follow in Merion Memorial Park, 59 W. Rockhill Road, Bala Cynwyd.

Homicide Capt. Mike Costello said authorities are struggling to find a motive and suspect.

Atkins was shot at point-blank range when he opened his front door shortly after 2 a.m. After Atkins fell in the doorway, the gunman fired another five shots at him.

Anyone who saw anything unusual that night or who may have information about the crime is asked to call homicide detectives at 215-686-3334.