Margaret Collins

Margaret Sue Collins, age 91, passed away on August 22, 2026. She was the daughter of the
late Sidney Thomas Jones and Margaret Ellen Coley Jones. She was preceded in death by
her husband, Earnest Swindell Collins,M.D. and son, Alan Brent Collins.

Funeral services will be held on Friday August 28, 2026 at St. Helena Anglican Church at
11:00am with reception to follow in the Parish Hall.

Sue was born on August 16, 1935 in the Dortches community of North Carolina where she had
a wonderful childhood with a loving family. Following high school she attended Meredith
College for one year then Medical College of Virginia to train and certify as a radiation tech.
She met Ernie who was attending West Point and they married before he graduated. After a
brief military service and farming experience they moved to Chapel Hill, NC. Sue worked for 6
years in the nuclear medicine department as a radiation tech to support Ernie through his
medical training. Residency training took the family with two young sons to Gainesville, FL
where Susan Ellen Collins was an exciting addition. An opportunity of a lifetime resulted in the
whole family living in Graz, Austria and traveling through Europe for six months. We all agreed
it was the happiest and most meaningful family time we ever had together.

The family found the idyllic coastal town in Beaufort, SC and moved here in 1971. The
community was incredibly welcoming and lifelong friendships were begun. Sue owned and
operated Indigo Art Gallery on Bay Street from 1984 to 2002. Upon her retirement she was
able to vacation at the beach with her sister and travel with friends including very spiritually
meaningful pilgrimages with the church. Life involved with St. Helena became a centerpiece of
her faith; she was an active member participating in church bazaars, serving as a docent and
on the altar guild. Her later years were physically challenging due to progressive lung disease
but her faith, family, and friends strengthened her to continue to be mentally engaged, the everpositive person she always has been. Seeing and knowing her four grandchildren and eight
great grandchildren brought her the greatest joy.

Sue is survived by her daughter, Susan Collins, and son, Brad Collins and his wife, Cindy
Collins; her grandchildren Allison Coppage and husband, Ben, Charlie Collins, Emily Kulze and
husband, Frazier, Ford Collins and wife, Danielle; her great grandchildren Harris and Bette
Coppage, Baker Collins, Reed and Nora Kulze, Greer, Tripp, and Keaton Collins.

The family would especially like to thank Sue’s caregivers for their love and support throughout these trying times.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Margaret's memory to the Collins Birthing Center/Beaufort Memorial Foundation, St. Helena Anglican Church, or to a charity of your choice.