A year after COVID death, Army vet's loss leaves a hole in family, community

After Atkins retired from the military, he went back to school. He got his degree in social work at Fayetteville State University.

Ty Atkins' death came after what was supposed to be a loving trip to visit his mother in Georgia. He quickly fell ill, was hospitalized and died within days.

The hardest part, Dianica Atkins says, is that COVID-19 restrictions kept her from his side in his final days.

"I can't imagine how it's scary it is to be sick. You can't talk to nobody. You can't touch anyone. Nobody can help you. You're really fighting this battle by yourself," she said. "All these families that are going through this, I feel for them."

On Wednesday, the anniversary of his passing, the family will gather again.

"We're going to go out to the grave site on Wednesday morning and put some balloons and flowers out there," Dianica Atkins said. "We'll talk to him for a little bit and then, we're just going to leave and go down to Georgia and spend some time with his family."

The couple was married for 26 years and spent 22 of them on active duty together in the Army. That is why, when the time comes, Dianica Atkins will have that service with full military honors.