Mertis Grace Collins

Mertis G. Collins, 72, of Westville went home to be with Jesus at 2:15 pm Saturday November 13, 2004 at Provena USMC Logan Campus. Mertis was born October 18, 1932 in Rose Hill North Carolina the daughter of the late Julius Daniel and Mary Edna (Knowles) Benton. Grace married the most handsome Marine Robert Norman Collins on June 22, 1950 they met in Wilmington N.C. while Bob was in the Marine Corps. Bob served in Korea and they started their family upon his return from the war. Survivors include her husband Robert Collins of Westville 4 daughters Mary Lynn (Douglas) Newman of Grape Creek, Bobbi Jane (Lyle) Murray of Hegler, Laurie Carol (Steve) Oreskavich of Westville and Leslie Grace (Timothy) Holycross of Grape Creek. More than anything else in the world she loved the relationships that she shared with her husband, her four girls, her 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. 1 sister and 2 brothers preceded Grace in death. Grace graduated from Benton Burgaw High School in Burgaw N.C. While attending school she played basketball and san "O Holy Night" with the famous Fred Waring Orchestra. Grace worked at Aerosol Techniques INC in Danville for many years. Grace was a member of 2nd Church of Christ. Grace loved to sing with the choir in the past years and enjoyed the visits of all her friends over the years of her failing health. She was in love with Jesus and ready to go home to be with him.