Mary Frances Waters was born on May 10, 1942 to the late Thomas Collins, Sr. and Maguerite Hudson in Stockton, Maryland. Mary unexpectedly took her eternal rest on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, Maryland.
Mary received her formal education in the public schools in Accomack County, Virginia. She was grounded in the Lord and accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age and throughout her life. Mary worked at the poultry plant in Stockton, Maryland.
In 1963, Mary was united in holy matrimony to Franklin Lee Waters, Sr. of Pocomoke, Maryland for thirteen years. From their union, Gail Denise Waters (deceased), Franklin Lee Waters Jr., and Vickie Ann Waters were born.
In 1966, Mary moved to New Castle, Delaware to seek more opportunities. She and her family found New Castle, Delaware to be the perfect place to raise their family in the Rosegate Community, where extended family and relationships were cultivated. It truly was a family oriented neighborhood and it took a village to raise the children that were a part of the tight knit/hardworking community.
Mary was hard-working and found her niche in the Healthcare industry. She attended school to obtain her nursing assistant certification/degree and worked at several nursing homes before settling at Ingleside Nursing Home in Wilmington, Delaware for several years.
In 1979, Mary ventured upon a new chapter in her life and found a new position as a divorced single mother. This transition was one that required Mary to exhibit strength and realign her life to be self-sufficient. Without a beat, she reprioritized her responsibilities. Her skills, knowledge, and determination to make a new life for herself and her children, afforded her an opportunity for employment at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Mary uprooted and began recreating a new chapter for herself. She moved to Ardmore, Pennsylvania and shared homeownership with two of her sisters for twenty years. There, she found employment as a Patient Care Technician with Bryn Mawr Hospital. Mary often found herself caring for several high profile celebrities, including Teddy Pendergrass, mother of Will Smith, mother of Wanya Morris of Boys to Men and quietly interacted with Kobe Bryant (who quietly visited patients and wanted to remain anonymous).
Mary was a hard worker, dedicated to her profession, and was often sought after to do private duty patient care, because of the personal attention, skill, and enjoyment she exhibited when caring for others. It also helped that she also worked with three of her sisters and brother-in-law at the same hospital. They too were dedicated and took pride in their work with extensive tenor.
Mary, along with two of her sisters, cared for their mother and grandmother, separately, taking them in to care for several years, until they succumbed to their illnesses. The “Sisters” as they were called, came as a package deal. They were the epitome of “I’m My Sisters Keeper.” They did EVERYTHING together and supported one another daily regardless of what was needed. It was a true “sisterhood.”
After working for over twenty years at Bryn Mawr Hospital, Mary decided to retire so that she could enjoy life and her family. As she began to transition into retirement life, she and two of her sisters decided to begin planning on relocating back to their hometown in the South. In the midst of the transition, Mary spent a little over a year living with her daughter and family in Media, Pennsylvania. During her stay, you would often find her spoiling the family by having dinner done early (her fried chicken was one of the BEST around), help with the children, including baths, unplanned school pickups or drop offs, legitimate or illegitimate sick days, planned and unplanned babysitting duties, rides to the mall for expensive sneakers for the grandchildren (after being advised not to buy them), because they told her they needed “inside and outside” basketball sneakers, and then her unexpected “pay it forward” love gifts . Her family LOVED her and the time they were blessed to have spent with her.
When she finally decided to truly retire and return back to Horntown, Virginia and move to the family home with her sister, she also decided to rejoin her home church, Tabernacle Baptist Church. Mary was always a faithful and firm believer in GOD and rested on the foundation her parents laid for her. However, she felt more comfortable worshipping with her hometown friends, family, and people she was familiar and grew up with. After rejoining Tabernacle Baptist Church, she reconnected with childhood friends and family members. That connection led her to serving on the Missionary Board and working at the food bank for some time with church members. Mary was very faithful in tithing and would ensure she made up for any Sunday she may have missed, as well as supported and donated to fundraisers. Mary even was part of the Bowling team that was created.
Mary LOVED her family, especially her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the close relationship with her three sisters and her brother, Thomas. It was normal to find a combination of the five of them interacting or doing something together. Whether it was taking a ride, buying each other groceries, talking on the phone, bossing each other around, and so many other day-to-day activities that they found interesting. “The Sisters” talked daily and you could easily find them in conversations laughing and teasing one another. They were often called the “News Anchors” because they knew what was going on in the Philadelphia or Virginia area and ensured it was reported to whomever needed to know on either end. Her love and support for her children was ALWAYS a priority regardless of the age. When the grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, you could see another spark of happiness she felt in spending time with them. She spoiled everything or everyone (in her own way) that came in her path. Her love even extended to EVERY pet she owned, including her two deceased dogs, (Bingey and Lucky) and Bella who continues to look for her to be in her room or for her to take her for a walk.
Mary was very clear and direct when she spoke. She meant what she said (most of the time) and would do whatever she felt like doing to satisfy her. However, her tough exterior only magnified and was over shadowed by her kind and loving heart and gestures on so many levels. It was normal to find a full dinner cooked when she knew family was coming to visit. Not to mention groceries already bagged and prepared for family to take home, snacks, ice cream, or any of your favorite items waiting for you. Although it was appreciated, she was often advised, that there were grocery stores up North when her children or family visited from the North.
Mary LOVED her children. She knew how to adjust to them and what they needed. Her daily conversations with her daughter, two or three times a day, often consisted of discussing her day, the Game Shows she watched, the weather, and what everyone was doing. She looked forward to receiving pictures of great-grandchildren via text or looking at the picture collages every morning that she kept on her dresser. Mary never failed to ask for a recent update on her son if she felt it was time or overdue based on her expectations. She was always cognizant of how long it’s been since her last conversation with either of her children and expected it to be resolved ASAP.
Her fond and loving memories will continue to live on through her children, Franklin Waters Jr. of Wilmington, DE and Vickie Ann Waters-Walton (Charles) of Media, PA; four siblings, Janice Purnell of Horntown, VA, Shirley Williams of Horntown VA, Florence Collins of Philadelphia, PA, and Thomas Collins, II (Gladys) of Horntown, VA; seven grandchildren, Keishelle Nesbitt of New Castle, DE, LeAndre Nesbitt, Crissaundra Nesbitt, both of Wilmington, DE, Charles Walton, Jr., Cameron Walton, both of Media, PA, Courtney Mason, and Unique Richardson, both of Wilmington, DE; six great-grandchildren, Destiny Latrice Grier, Juliana Faith Walton, Natalie Grace Walton, Brandy Aundrea Nesbitt, Luther Stith, and Leland Jacob Nesbitt; special and fond memories with Dorothy Palmer, Elizabeth Jones, Brenda Dale, Wayne and Faith Collins, and Marvin and Vanessa Purnell; along with a HOST of family, friends, and those she encountered, her memory will live on.
Mary was preceded in death by: her parents, Thomas, Sr. and Marguerite “Mom Bea” Collins; siblings, Grace Johnson, Linwood Collins, Sr., and James Tull; brother-in-law, George Williams; and great-grandson, Noah Jacob Walton.
She fostered a life of kindness, love, and selfless sacrifice so much for her family. Mary cared for several people over the course of her life, including nieces, nephews, brothers, mother, grandmother, aunts, and uncles, in addition to caring for her own children. She fostered a close relationship with ALL and loved them as if they were her own. She will be sorrowfully missed by so many on earth, but her spirit and memories will continue to be part of the Legacy that continues to live on.