Mildred Ball Collins

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

Mildred Ball Collins, 76, of Kingsport, TN, was carried on the wings of angels to be with her Lord on December 28, 2010, after a lengthy illness. She was born in Lee County, St. Charles, VA, and moved to Kingsport in 1952. She worked at Holston Valley Community Hospital in the Dietary Department and Central Supply.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Sampes Robert Ball and Flora Jane Chandler Ball, St. Charles, VA; stepmother, Mildred Lawson Ball, St. Charles, VA; two sisters, Mona Sue Ball, and Maxie Vaughn; two brothers, Ernest "Bud" Ball and Elmo Ball; and grandson, Jason Boyer.

She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Tom J. Collins; three daughters, Brenda Graham and husband, Jerry, Glenda Campbell and husband, Joel, and Janie Hensley; four grandsons, Jeremy Graham, Joshua Graham. Samuel Mays, and Stephen Mays; two granddaughters, Julia Hanmer and Hannah Campbell; a great-granddaughter, Kalynn Rose Graham; brothers, Elden Ball, Dearborn, MI, and Ellis Ball, Franklin, OH; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday evening at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport, or anytime at the home. Services will follow at 7:00, with Rev. Joe Barber and Rev. Hugh Ratledge officiating. Music will be provided by John Powers.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Lovelace Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jeremy Graham, Samuel Mays, Stephen Mays, Lynn Arnold, Jeremy Arnold, Rob Vaughn and Michael Hanmer. Honorary pallbearer will be Josh Graham.

The family expresses special thanks to Amedisys, and most especially to Christy Bledsoe and Angela Grimsley and to special friend, Minnie Jean Overbay.