H*4913 Resolution, By McLeod and Delleney
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ANNE PICKENS COLLINS OF CHESTER
 COUNTY, AND TO COMMEND HER ENDURING LEGACY OF SELFLESS SERVICE AND MEANINGFUL
 ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

   02/29/12  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 3)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ANNE PICKENS COLLINS OF CHESTER COUNTY, AND TO COMMEND HER ENDURING LEGACY OF SELFLESS SERVICE AND MEANINGFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives should pause in their deliberations to commend such a distinguished and respected daughter of the Palmetto State as Anne Pickens Collins; and

Whereas, born in the Hopewell Community of Oconee County on January 9, 1910, the former Anne Pickens began her education in a one-room school in Hopewell, and was later educated at Seneca High School, Greenville Woman's College, which merged with Furman University in 1938, and at the University of South Carolina, where she studied journalism; and

Whereas, on January 8, 1931, she married the late Joel Wyman (Joe) Collins, Sr., a Denmark native attending Clemson College. Anne and Joe made their home in Chester, where they reared six outstanding children who have blessed her with seventeen adoring grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren; and

Whereas, Mrs. Collins diligently worked many years in the family-owned Joe Collins Real Estate, Inc., beginning with its founding in 1966. After her husband's death in 1975, she continued with the business as broker-in-charge and president until her retirement in 1988; and

Whereas, her family was honored as the first family ever named Family of the Year in the City of Chester in 1957 and as the Regional Family of the Year in 1987. In 1985, she was chosen as the Clemson Mother of the Year, and in connection with this honor dotted the "i" in the word "Tigers" on the football field at Clemson University during the pregame show of the homecoming football game; and

Whereas, a member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Chester for more than sixty-seven years, she served as a Methodist Youth Fellowship director for twelve years and as a Sunday school teacher for over seventy years; and

Whereas, among a myriad of community involvements, Mrs. Collins helped to organize the Arts Council of Chester County and served on its board, organized and served on the board of the Chester Little Theater beginning in 1970, represented Chester at the President's White House Conference on Aging in 1970; and served for twenty-five years as a trustee for the Chester County Library, including service as its chairman for twelve years. The "Anne Pickens Collins Room" at the Chester County Museum was given by Mrs. Collins' children in her honor in 1985, a worthy tribute to her devotion to the library and the written word; and

Whereas, she received both the Chester Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Award and the Old Hickory Sertoma District Service to Mankind Award in 1985 for her work as the chairperson of the Chester County Library Society, raising money for the building of the new library; and

Whereas, in 2006, Governor Mark Sanford awarded Mrs. Collins the coveted Order of the Silver Crescent, an honor reserved for persons with outstanding achievements and community contributions in South Carolina; and

Whereas, she has co-authored or authored and published thirteen books that include Chester County Heritage History, Volumes I and II, published in 1982 and 1985, respectively; A Goodly Heritage: History of Chester County, South Carolina, published in 1985; Ambling With Anne, Volumes I and II, published in 1990 and 1998, respectively; Wellsprings of Bethel, published in 1985, The Collins Family History, published in 1994, and The Twentieth Century and Me, published in 2000; and

Whereas, a reporter for The State in 1931 and a feature writer for The Chester News and Reporter for many years, Anne Collins distinguished herself as a scholar, historian, columnist, and essayist; and

Whereas, Mrs. Collins's charming and often earthy writing style is laced with cogent details and insightful scholasticism from a life filled with the realities of family, children, faith, business, and community; and

Whereas, on January 9, 2012, Anne Collins passed the rare milestone of her one hundred second birthday. Her remarkable life of more than a century has enriched and touched not only her family but countless other citizens of South Carolina; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for Anne Pickens Collins, a gracious lady and native daughter of South Carolina, whose life has enriched so many in her community and in our beloved State through her outstanding leadership, singular generosity, and significant service. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Anne Pickens Collins of Chester County, and commend her enduring legacy of selfless service and meaningful accomplishments.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Anne Pickens Collins.