After a well-fought battle with cancer, Mrs. Donna Collins passed away on March 10, 2024, at Community Hospice in Vidalia. She was born and raised in Vidalia. She attended Harvest Chapel Church and served as a children’s Sunday School teacher. She was a 1987 graduate of Robert Toombs Christian Academy. She was a feisty athlete, and people loved to watch her dive into the bases as well as scrap after a basketball. She was a member of the 1986 State Softball Championship team. After graduation, she earned her Associate’s degree from Brewton Parker College and then went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University. She worked part-time at Piggly Wiggly Southern and at Meadows Regional Medical Center. After a few years in the workforce, Mrs. Collins finally found God’s direction for her to become an educator. She began her teaching career at Robert Toombs Christian Academy while serving as an adjunct instructor at Southeastern Technical College. With the support of her husband and family, she successfully earned her teaching certification and then began a fulfilling career with Vidalia City Schools. Some of her most favorite work was done with the Work-Based Learning program. She served on leadership teams and served as the prom sponsor, yearbook advisor, and FBLA Advisor. In 2010, she was awarded the Region 2 FBLA Advisor of the Year. One of her most memorable moments was in 2013 when she was named Vidalia High School Teacher of the Year. In 2016, she was selected as a WBL Top Gun recipient, an honor that went to the top 20 WBL Coordinators throughout the state. Mrs. Collins decided to continue her education in 2005, earning her Master’s degree from Troy State University, and in 2007, earning her Education Specialist degree from Nova Southeastern University. In 2018, she accepted a full-time WBL Coordinator position at SECCA, serving students from Montgomery, Treutlen, and Vidalia. She loved meeting business and industry supervisors and developing strong partnerships with them. Work-Based Learning was Mrs. Collins’ passion!
Mrs. Collins is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Earl and Robbie Horton, Sr., and her maternal grandparents, Otis and Nannie Lou Hayes. Mrs. Collins is survived by her loving husband, Kenny, of 30 years; two sons, Caleb Collins (Haley); Jacob Collins (Maci); her parents, Harry and Jean Horton; two siblings, Gloria O’Neal (James), and Michael Horton (Stephanie); two precious grandsons, Elijah Collins, and Cetch Collins, and one beautiful step-granddaughter, Cambree Campbell, all of Vidalia. She has one sister-in-law, Debra Edwards (Jeff) from Texas. She is survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She also had a special lifelong friend, Tyann Copeland, who shared many wonderful memories with her.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening, March 13th from 5:00 until 8:00.
The funeral service will be Thursday morning, March 14th at 11:00 in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Kevin Collins officiating. Burial will follow at Horton Family Memorial Gardens near Higgston.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Donna A. Collins Work-Based Learning Scholarship Fund, c/o Peoples Bank, 2301 East 1st St., Vidalia, GA 30474.
Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home in Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.
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