CHESAPEAKE—Jeanne Marie Collins, 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by a heartbroken pack of loved ones on December 2, 2024.  She is predeceased by her husband of 61 years and the love of her life, James E. Collins, known to everyone as "Feetsy", and a brother, Ivor "Butch" Jones, Jr.

Jeanne was born December 22, 1931 to Ivor Jones, Sr. and Margaret Resolute Jones (Allen) in Portsmouth, VA.  She graduated from Fairfax Hall, an all-girls boarding school, in 1949 and cherished sharing the memories from her attendance there, and sorority (Beta Sigma Phi) shenanigans, with her family members.

Jeanne had an unbridled enthusiasm for everything in life.  Spending quality time with her grands and greats was paramount, and she made infinite trips to Busch Gardens with them over summer breaks through the years.  "Nana" absolutely loved to travel, and she had visited every state in our country (even though a handful of states were a "drive through" and a meal.) She even traveled to Ireland with Feetsy, and to Italy at age 84.  Jeanne was always packing her suitcase.  Several of her favorite travels were with her great friend Jerri Whiteman, who worked on various movie sets. On one of those trips with Jerri, Jeanne met the second love of her life: actor Channing Tatum.

Reading and crossword puzzles were her daily labors of love. "Nana" had a competitive nature and, along with working puzzles, enjoyed teaching her grandchildren boardgames (and how to WIN).  On family summer beach vacations, you could find her sitting by the surf with a book, her toes in the sand, at Avalon, NJ, Emerald Isle, NC, or Sandbridge.  Each summer included the annual Minnesott Golf Tournament. Feetsy and Jeanne would stay at Oriental Marina for the weekend with friends and family. Jeanne Marie always had tickets to a concert or show, and her devoted appreciation for theater and music was ever present from a young age.  She was a proud member of the "Pearl Girls" (her besties for decades), The Little Theatre of Portsmouth, Bridge Club, and more….

She was employed for many years with Allied Towing in Norfolk, and later Allied Naval Architects in Portsmouth as a bookkeeper and administrative secretary.

Jeanne's faith and dedication to her church were contagious.  She loved her family at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, her second home.  A beloved and faithful member there, she served as a Vestry member and President of the Episcopal Church Women for many years.

A persistent shutterbug, "Nana" chronicled the family's lives in photos. An entire wall of photo albums are now coveted treasures to the loved ones she has left behind:  daughter Dianne Huling Turner and son-in-law, Donald Turner, of West Chester, PA; sons Harold "Chip" Huling (Mary Bradshaw) of Richmond, VA; and J. Kevin Collins and daughter-in-law, Hollie Owen Collins, of Chesapeake, VA; six grandchildren: Christopher Turner (wife Carly), Andrew Turner (wife Jennifer), Ian Huling, Chandler Mills (husband Matthew), Zoe Huling, and J. Baodan Collins; and eight great-grandchildren: Cole, Reese, Lane, Holden, Leo, Marissa, Pippa, and Juliana.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 28, at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 3300 Cedar Ln, Portsmouth, followed by burial at Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Christopher's Episcopal Church or Ruff Road Pet Rescue , 5709 Churchland Blvd., Suite A, Portsmouth, VA 23703. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.