Edith Kennedy Collins

Mrs. Edith Kennedy Collins, 96, and a lifetime resident of Greensboro, was reunited with her husband, Grady and her Savior, Jesus Christ on May 21, 2015. She passed peacefully in the company of her family. Funeral services to celebrate her life will be at 3 PM, Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Hanes-Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel with Pastor Bob Pavlacka officiating. Entombment will follow in Floral Garden Memorial Park. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:30 prior to the service.

Edith was born in Guilford County to the late James and Annie Blair Kennedy. She was one of nine children and upon the death of her young mother became the caretaker of her younger brothers and sisters. She was the backbone of her family then and now. She was a woman of great faith and was a member of Burnett’s Chapel UMC where she served as a Sunday School teacher and truly enjoyed the church’s Senior Citizen Club. Edith also worshiped with her family and was a member of New Life Family Church. She married Grady McCoy Collins in 1937 and celebrated 69 wonderful years of marriage until his passing in 2006. Together she and Grady started Sedgefield Supermarket and then Sedgefield Florist and Garden Center. After twenty five years they retired from the florist in the early 1980’s.

Edith had a compassionate, fun loving spirit and with her outgoing personality she was always the life of the party. Story telling was just one of her many talents and she loved to write stories and illustrate her grandchildren’s books when they were little. She was also a musician, accomplished on piano and guitar, and a lover of art. She enjoyed sculpting and was a charter member of Lexington Art Guild. Her membership at the YMCA Silver Sneakers club fulfilled her enjoyment of being in the company of others and her participation in Meals on Wheels fulfilled her desire to serve others. Her grandchildren brought her so much joy and she loved sharing AMA moto-cross racing with her grandsons. Edith was never afraid of change in fact, she embraced it and looked forward to what was coming next. “Never stop learning” was one of her many mottos, so at the youthful age of 89, she took computer and keyboarding classes!

She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Marcia Collins Carter (Ken ) and Kathy Collins McDaniel (Patrick) both of Greensboro; grandchildren, William Lee “Billy” Brown Jr.(Ellen and her daughter, Madison), Jonathan Carter, Mark Dillon (Beulah), Jennifer Shore and Patrick McDaniel (Lisa); great grandchildren, Emily Alaine Carter, Amy Hamrick, Mac and Lauryn McDaniel, Teresa, Ashley and Bradley Safriet, Nick York (Sheba), and Joey York; great-great granddaughter, Addison Safriet; sister Opal McBride; and brother, Herbert H. Kennedy. In addition to her parents and husband, Edith is preceded in death by her grandson, Kevin Todd Dillon, sisters; Verta Lee Welborn, Paulette Lanier, Inez Gray, Wanda Kinney, Zella Mae Stephens, and Beatrice Kennedy; and brother, Joe Kennedy.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Randolph County for their compassion and care shown Mrs. Collins and her family. Floral tributes are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Randolph County, 416 Vision Dr., Asheboro, NC 27203. On line condolences may be made to www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.