Mary Elizabeth "Lib" Collins

Mary Elizabeth Hart Collins, 90, passed away on Thursday, September 22, 2016 after several years of declining health. She died exactly one week after her beloved husband Greg. She was also predeceased by her parents Ruby and Gurney Hart along with her brother Will Hart.
Mary was born in Kinston, NC on July 5, 1926. Her family later moved to Goldsboro where she graduated high school and then began working for the Goldsboro News Argus. It was during this time that she covered the last inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was always proud of telling the story of traveling by train to Washington, DC as a nineteen year old to cover this historical event.
The following year she married Greg in Goldsboro on February 27, 1947. Later that same year they moved to Elkin where they began their family and remained until their deaths.
She is survived by her brother Bill who she cherished having long conversations with regularly; three children: Sara Hill (Tony), John Collins (Catherine) and Chrissie Pardue (Gary).  She also has eight grandchildren, Amy Morse (Bobby), Lee Pardue, Paul Pardue, Tim Hill (Teresa), Holly Proud (Greg), Susan Terry (Rikki), Greg Collins and Jenny Hughes; ten great grandchildren: Emily, Sara, Gregory, Charlie, Bradley, Benji, Joey, Thomas, Aubrey and Brenna.
She loved spending time at the beach with her family, especially rocking on the front porch. In recent years she enjoyed her friend Dale coming daily to read to her and having wonderful conversations.
Nothing could please Mary more than being with her family. Anyone that knew her, knew that Mary had a way of making everyone who came into her life feel very special.
The family would like to thank the Chatham Nursing home staff and especially the sitters that were with her on a regular basis.Each one of them she considered one of her special friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, October 3, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Stephen Catholic Church with Monsignor Gerald Lewis and Sister Janis McQuade, SSJ officiating. The family will receive friends following the service from 1:00 - 2:00pm in the Family Life Center. A private burial will be held at a later time.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to St. Stephen endowment fund, 101 Hawthorne Road, Elkin NC. 28621.