Sylvia Welch Collins

Obituary

Sylvia Welch Collins, 74, of Winnsboro passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2021. Her husband was at her side. Born in Winnsboro, she was the daughter of the late Harrison Leonard and Mary Ethel Rhymer Welch. She was raised in Belmont, NC but moved back to Winnsboro with her grandma Roxie during her high school years. While attending Winnsboro High she met and married her sweetheart, Duck of 56 years. Together they raised their family in Winnsboro.

Besides being a devoted, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Sylvia was an enthusiast for family history (genealogy). She did much research online but also traveled to many small towns and hidden cemeteries. She was the glue and the link to the past, present, and future and enjoyed sharing her research with the family.

Over the years Sylvia learned to handcraft at the feet of her great aunts and friends.  She had a hunger and thirst to learn, a desire to make the world beautiful one handcrafted gift at a time.

Sylvia was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she served in many callings over the years. She had a deep testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was an example Christ-like service.

She is survived by her husband, Donald Elroy Collins, Sr.; son, Jonathan Eric Collins, I (Melissa); daughters, Tammy Collins Bird (Trent) and Donna Jean Collins; brothers, William “Billy” Welch, Richard Welch (Georgia), and Jimmy Welch (Peggy); and sisters, Paulette Cathcart and Sharon Wilson (Steve); Sylvia is also survived by 9 grandchildren, Amanda Owens, Jonathan Bird, Symantha Dattilo, Andrew Bird, Adam Ryan Owen Collins, Morgan Bedwell, Jonathan Eric Collins, II, Addyson Collins, and Elijah Collins; and five great grandchildren. 

In addition to her parents, Sylvia is predeceased by a son, Donald Elroy “Duckie” Collins, Jr.; two brothers, Harry and Kenneth Welch; and one sister, Mary Ann Shepard.

 Funeral services will be held on 3:30 PM Sunday, February 14, 2021 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Blythewood Ward, 1391 Centerville Road, Ridgeway SC 29130.  Burial will follow in Centerville Cemetery.  For everyone’s safety, social distancing will be implemented, and masks are required. Public viewing hours will he held from 12 Noon - 4 o'clock PM Friday, February 12, 2021 at Pope Funeral Home.  

The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sylvia Collins memorial fund.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Pope Funeral Home for their attentive service to our family during this time.