For the first time in more in more than half a century, Dr. Mark Atkins of Ponte Vedra Beach woke up Thursday morning without his devoted wife by his side.
Phyllis Atkins, 79, went missing Wednesday morning after leaving her Blue Seas Court home to take her dog out for a walk.
The St. Johns County Sheriff Office issued an alert after Atkins failed to return home and released video of her exiting her residence for the routine outing.
Hours later, the department revealed that she had been found deceased and that no foul play was suspected.
Her heartbroken husband posted a touching photo from their last anniversary on Facebook Thursday morning in announcing the loss.
Seated together behind a cake, Phyllis can be seen beaming next to her spouse.
“Phyllis, wife of 57 1/2 years, center of my life, mother to Margaret and grandmother to Ziva and Zoe, passed away suddenly yesterday,” he wrote. “May her memory be a blessing.”
Condolences poured in after the longtime physician’s post, with friends recalling Atkins as a sweethearted woman and devoted mother and grandmother.
“Phyllis was an amazing lady,” one person wrote. “She made our world a better place.”
Others commemorated their marriage in wishing Atkins strength.
“I am so very sorry to hear this Dr Atkins,” one person wrote. “I hope that the many memories that you have provide you comfort in the coming days and years. Yours was a true love story.”
