Donna Reed Collins Williams

Mrs. Donna Reed Collins Williams, 79, of Mount Airy, passed away Sunday morning, March 2, 2025, at her home. Mrs. Williams was born September 2, 1945, in Surry County, one of six children born to the late Moses Collins, Jr. and Frances Pauline Lowe Collins. During her childhood, Donna spent her days playing, taking care of her siblings, doing chores, and, along with cousins and family, exploring the woods and fields of Pine Ridge.

As a 1963 graduate of North Surry High School, she participated in several high school activities, such as cheerleading and driving a bus. It was while she was at NSHS that the strong-opinionated, feisty young woman met the love of her life: a tall, shy, athletic young man from Beulah named J.W. Williams. After marrying, the couple built a small brick rancher on Pine Ridge Road. While living there for over 57 years, she became the Mother of not only three boys but many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless neighborhood kids who gathered at the house over the years.

In the mid-1970s, she and J.W. became members of Ivy Green Baptist Church. Not long after joining the church, she took an interest in music and learned to play the piano. A few years later, this endeavor led to her becoming the pianist at Ivy Green, a position she faithfully held for over 45 years, until her death. Also, in the 1970s, she combined her talent of playing the piano and singing with J.W.’s musical talent, and, along with several in-laws, formed a gospel group called The Williams Family. The group played at countless local churches and gospel events throughout the 1980s.

Throughout her life, she worked at several establishments that included W.T. Grants Department Store, Proctor-Silex, and the Surry County Health Department. In her mid-40s, she went back to school and obtained a nursing degree from Surry Community College, which led her to a 15-year nursing career at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital. In addition, throughout the 1980s and mid-1990s, she was employed as an aerobics and fitness instructor at Reeves Community Center and Surry Community College.

After her retirement from Hugh Chatham, she and J.W. spent their days spoiling grandchildren and poodles, cruising in their 1959 Ford Galaxie 500, and taking care of family and neighbors. After J.W.’s passing in 2018, Donna spent her remaining years severely missing him and, as a woman of strong faith, knew that she would one day pass on and be reunited with the love of her life.

She is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Mike Williams, Mitch and Christy Williams, and John Michael Williams and Adrienne Angel; two grandchildren, Raleigh Williams and Charlotte Williams; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Debbie Bryant, Denise and Roy Cox, and Vickie Flippin; a brother and sister-in-law, Randy and Dana Collins; several nieces and nephews; her special neighbors, Wayne and Sandra East; and her beloved poodles, Bo and Alfie.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Williams was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, John William “J.W.” Williams; and a sister, Diane Niston.

A service of worship and celebration of Donna’s life will be held Friday, March 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy, with the Rev. Robert McCrary and the Rev. Tony Holder officiating. The family will receive friends Friday from 12:00 until 2:00 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, P.O. Box 325, Dobson, NC  27017.