Ada Wrenne Collins

Ada Wrenne Collins “Groovy Granny” BEECH ISLAND, S.C. - Ada Wrenne Weeks Collins, lovingly known as "Groovy Granny," passed away peacefully on Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, at the home of her daughter, Flo Carter, in Beech Island, S.C., after a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, at First Baptist Church of Beech Island where she was a member with the Revs. Frank R. Hyder and Earl Carter officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at Stephen D. Posey Funeral Home, 1307 Georgia Ave., in North Augusta. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Alan Boykin, Timothy Quick, Aaron Quick, Ian Quick, Blake Boykin, Trey Padgett and Bryan Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be deacons of the First Baptist Church of Beech Island. She was 97, having been born in Tullahoma, Tenn., on Oct. 25, 1909. Her early years were spent in Charleston, S.C. She was an accomplished musician and made her debut at age 9 playing the coronet with the Charleston Symphony in which her father, Robert Weeks, and brothers, Wendell and Walter Weeks, also were members. Ada also played the piano, harmonica and guitar, formed her own country and western music band and joined her daughter's gospel music group, The Sounds of Joy, in 1974 after the death of her husband, Gilbert Collins. Her greatest love was serving her Lord with her musical talents in churches, nursing homes and on television. She regularly was seen on her family's gospel music program on WJBF-TV from 1974 to 1981 and on the Parade of Quartets program from 1981 until her last appearance in December 2005. She graduated from technical college at 64 and was executive housekeeper of the Bon Air Hotel for many years beginning the 1950s. She was the daughter of the late Robert and Addie Weeks and was preceded in death by her daughter, Nona Mae Ginn, one sister, Nona Mae Acklin, and brothers, Wendell, George and Walter Weeks. Her survivors include one daughter, Flo Carter (husband, Don); three granddaughters, Winona Faith "Cookie" Dodson (Billy Ray), Toni Elizabeth Carter and Donna Sherry Williams, all of Beech Island; four great-grandchildren, Michelle Quick (Timothy), Lisa Boykin (Alan), Bryan Williams (Annette) and Kimberly Suzanne Mays; six great-great grandchildren, Brandie Nicole Padgett (Trey), Timothy Aaron Quick (Rikki), Patrick Ian Quick, Brittany and Blake Boykin and Kaylee Carmella Mays; and numerous nieces and nephews. Stephen D. Posey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (803) 278-1181. Visit the registry online at www.poseyfuneralhome.com.

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Ada Wrenne Collins

October 25, 1909 - August 17, 2007