Mary Eleanor Gregersen Collins

Mary Eleanor Gregersen Collins-Charleston County Mary Eleanor Gregersen Collins, 73, of Edisto Island, wife of Henry Elias Collins died Sunday at her residence. A visitation will be held at James A. Dyal Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 from 6 to 8 o’clock. Funeral services for Mrs. Collins will be held Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 2 o’clock at The Presbyterian Church on Edisto Island, Hwy. 174. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Roper St. Francis Hospice, 1483 Tobias Gadson Blvd., Ste. 208-A, Charleston, SC 29407. Mrs. Collins was born July 1, 1938, in Sumter, SC, daughter of the late John Roland Gregersen and Mary Helen Adkins Gregersen. In her younger years Mrs. Collins was a Powder Puff Race Car Driver in Hickory, NC. She was an expert roller skater in her youth and head cheerleader in High School. She was trained to play the piano and the steel guitar and quite an excellent square dancer in her day. Very early in the 1950’s she trained as an IBM Data Processer using punch computer cards. In her day she typed 125 words per minute without errors on a manual typewriter. She worked multiple jobs upon coming to Edisto in order to support her children, typed briefs and legal documents for Attorney Wayne Unger, sold Avon, Sarah Coventry, worked as a seamstress in a textile mill and at Whaley’s Store. She was a trained EMT; one of the first trained at Edisto and her secret wish was to a nurse. Her love language was gift giving. She was former President of the Edisto Island Elementary School PTA. She was a member and past president of the King’s Daughters of Edisto Island. At one time her homemade German Chocolate Cakes fetched the highest donations for charity. Unknown to most, she was a driving force behind the care of a number of people with long term illnesses, quietly paying for groceries, supplies, medical bills on an ongoing basis-of these she seldom shared. Before moving back to the Presbyterian Church she was a charter member of Edisto Beach Baptist Church. She was an expert and very competitive card player; pinochle, bridge, canasta, rummy etc. In later years she was one of four driving forces behind the success of Collins Pavilion on Edisto Island. She was the oldest of six daughters-she was nine years old when the second child was born. She was the mother of four, grandmother of eleven and great grandmother of four with one more on the way in July. Survivors include her husband Henry, three sons and one daughter; The Rev. Robert Spainhour (daughter in law Marcia) of Wilmington, NC, Beverly Fisk (Evrette) of Edisto Island, Tony Spainhour (Sonya) of Edisto Island and Brian Collins of Edisto Island, eleven grandchildren; Chad Fisk (Lee), Jennifer Free (Robbie), Avery Spainhour, Lauren Harris (Wyatt), Cantey Spainhour, Ryan Fisk, Heath Fisk, Sean Spainhour, Elijah Collins, Ethan Collins and Drayton Collins, four great grandchildren; Hartman Fisk, Hawkins Hanson, Olivia Free and Lake Fisk; five sisters; Brenda Davidson (Ted), Nina Ivey, Nora Lee King (James), Judy Johnson and Debbie Royer (Gene), numerous nieces and nephews and a very special, devoted friend; Violet McKenney. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jamesadyal.com. ARRANGEMENTS BY JAMES A. DYAL FUNERAL HOME, 303 S. MAIN STREET, SUMMERVILLE, SC 29483 (843) 873-4040.

Mary Eleanor Gregersen Collins

July 1, 1938 - May 20, 2012