Nell Collins

Nell Collins, daughter of Oscar A. Collins and Nancy Adeline Boyd, was born in Danville, Va.  She died 27 Jan 2012. She married Robert P. Thompson.

Children of Nell Collins and Robert Thompson are:

i. Living Thompson

From the Roanoke Times:

Nell Collins Thompson of Daleville, died Friday, January 27, 2012 at The Glebe following a brief illness. Mrs. Thompson was born in the cotton mill village of Schoolfield, which is now part of Danville, Virginia and was the daughter of the late Oscar A. and Nancy A. Boyd Collins. She was graduated from George Washington High School and Averett Junior College both in Danville and later was graduated from Westhampton College of The University of Richmond.

Mrs. Thompson received her master's degree in religious education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. She furthered her education with various courses at Roanoke College, University of Virginia, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Nell married the Reverend Robert P. Thompson and became a pastor's wife, a vocation she took very seriously. Nell was preceded in death by her husband in 2007 and is survived by her daughter, Robin T. Erickson of Daleville; grandchildren, Julie R. Erickson of Roanoke and Eric Erickson of Longmont, Colorado; sister, Nancy Adnia McDowell of Roanoke; niece and nephew, Sally (Alex) Hosmer of Summerville, Georgia and James (Lynn) McDowell of Haymakertown; great-nieces and great-nephew, Jessica Cook of Summerville, Georgia, Joseph McDowell of Richmond, and Zoe McDowell of New Haven, Connecticut; and beloved friend, Bill Ewing of Roanoke.

In addition to being a pastor's wife, Nell was a teacher, historian, and published author. She was also an accomplished ballroom dancer. Nell served as a pastor's wife at Mt. Vernon and Arbor Baptist Churches in Halifax County, and at Mill Creek Baptist Church in Botetourt County.

She was a teacher at Schoolfield Elementary School, Presbyterian Colored Missions (now John Little Missions) in Louisville, Kentucky, and retired from teaching at James River High School in 1984.

Nell was inducted into Delta Kappa Gamma and served on many boards as a member and later as an officer in the Roanoke Valley and throughout Virginia. She was a member of the Blue Ridge Forum, Virginia Baptist Historical Society, Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Roanoke Valley, Adult Issues Advocacy Committee of Mental Health Association of Roanoke Valley, charter member of Roanoke branch of The National League of American Pen Women, historian and trustee of Mill Creek Baptist Church, historian of Roanoke Valley Baptist Association, Roanoke Valley Baptist Ministers' Wives Organization, United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers' Association, trustee of Virginia Baptist Homes, Inc. and served on The Glebe Advisory Council. Nell was very instrumental in the creation of The Glebe.

As an accomplished author, she wrote Echoes from the Mill, It's a Rainbow, Dining and Dancing with Fred Astaire, 'ssociation Saga, A Heap of Helping, Baptist Life at Purgatory, Highlights from Ward Haven History, "A Bird's-eye View," "Valley Devotions," and Roanoke Valley Baptist Association "Directory."

Nell was the first recipient of the Knights of Distinction Award in the James River High School Hall of Fame in 1992; received the Unsung Hero Award from the Mental Health Association in 1991; Ballroom Silver in 1993 for the completion of the silver level in ballroom dancing. She participated several times in the southeastern regional competition where she received outstanding and superior ratings.

A celebration of Nell's life will be Tuesday, 2 p.m. at Mill Creek Baptist Church, 11475 Lee Highway, Fincastle with the Reverend Randy Daniels officiating, and the Reverend Fred Anderson as eulogist. Burial will be at Mill Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home, 630 Roanoke Road, Daleville Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Virginia Baptist Historical Society, PO Box 34, University of Richmond, Virginia 23173.