Lillian Thompson Collins

Columbia, SC- Lillian Collins, 95, wife of the late Norman J. Collins for 66 years, died Sunday, December 15, 2013. Mrs. Collins was born in Lynn, NC, on June 20, 1918, and was the daughter of the late Hinton Hosey Thompson and Sina Capps Thompson. She was a graduate of Tryon High School, Tryon, NC, where she played basketball, and Robinson Business College in Spartanburg, SC. Mrs. Collins was employed as a secretary at Foremost Dairy in Charlotte, NC before starting her family. Lillian and Norman raised their family in Spartanburg, and she lived there prior to moving to Columbia in 2008 when Norman passed away. She was a charter member of Croft Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC, where she served her church for 55 years as a teacher of primary children. She was also a member of the Women’s Missionary Union, the choir, and the Joy Club. What she loved the most was sharing her faith and love for Jesus Christ with others. Mrs. Collins was loyal to her friends, neighbors, and family. She was generous with her time and skills to those she cared about and was quite competent in a variety of skills such as painting, needlework, cooking, preserving food, and sewing. She was an active member of the Croft Extension Homemakers Club. Mrs. Collins enjoyed watching sports such as college basketball and the Atlanta Braves. Lillian is survived by two daughters, Judy Gaskins, and Janis Lawther (Bill) both of Columbia, SC; a son, Norman Jr. (Rosemary) of Ollala, WA; a granddaughter, Stephanie Galeota (Craig); her great granddaughters, Addison and Alexa of Lake Wylie, SC; a sister, Lela Bishop of Kannapolis, NC; and special friends, Linda and Dick Howson of Redmond, WA. In addition to her husband, she is predeceased by her brother, John Lewis Thompson of Tryon, NC. The family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff of National Health Care and Palmetto Hospice for their love and care during Mrs. Collins’ illness. The family will receive friends Wednesday, December 18th, 4:00-6:00pm at Dunbar Funeral Home, 690 Southport Road, Roebuck, SC 29376. Graveside services will be held Thursday, December 19th, 11:00am in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Spartanburg, SC, officiated by Reverend J. Allen Smith and Kenneth R. Page. There will also be a visitation on Friday, December 20th, 4:30-6:30pm at National Health Care, 7601 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC. In remembrance of Lillian, memorials may be made to Croft Baptist Church, 4190 E. Croft Circle, Spartanburg, SC 29302; Bethel United Methodist Church, 4600 Daniel Drive, Columbia, SC 29206; or to Samaritan’s Purse, P O Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000.