Judge T. Carroll Atkinson, III is a lifelong resident of Marion County and is the son of Mrs. Lucia O. Atkinson and the late T. Carroll Atkinson, Jr. He is a graduate of Marion High School and received a degree in Business Administration from Newberry College. He is married to the former Susanne Cook and they are the parents of three children, Troy, Susanne and Lucas.

He is currently a member and past president of the Marion Rotary Club, a member of the Marion and Mullins Chamber of Commerce having served as past president of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Swamp Fox Booster Club, and member of the State Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce for several years. Judge Atkinson is also a former member of the Marion City Council. He is a member of Marion Baptist Church. He has served as Marion County Probate Judge since July 1987.