Collye Mae Dickson Walker

""In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you"" (1Thess.5:18) We give thanks to God for the life of Collye Mae Dickson Walker who passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at Arbor Acres, Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the age of 92. Collye was born November 16, 1915, in Crenshaw, Mississippi and was the daughter of Lillie Mae McCharen Dickson and Floyd Baskel Dickson. Also preceding her in death was her husband, Alton Bernard Walker (1966); and two sisters, Mary, Mrs. John Fagan and Rachel, Mrs. Lothar Fieg. Collye was loved by all who knew her but especially by her only daughter, Margaret Walker McLeod and her five grandchildren - Tommy (Cellane) McLeod, Mary (David) Lewis, Margie (Kevin) Holt, Laura ( John) Helms, and Bob (Carolyn) McLeod, 12 great-grandchildren- Meredith and Patrick Holt, Landis, Channing and Delaney McLeod, Matthew and Molly Lewis, Kathleen and Nathan Helms and Christina, Connor and Austin McLeod. Also surviving are many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Collye was a person of great strength and resolve. After losing her father at a young age during the Great Depression, she grew up knowing how to work hard. Collye married Alton Bernard Walker in Crenshaw Mississippi and they farmed during the 1930's and 40's. In 1950, they moved to Waynesville, NC where she and her husband owned and managed a motel/restaurant. In 1957, they moved to Winston-Salem in order to help their daughter with her growing family. Collye immediately went to work as a cafeteria manager at The Caravan Room at RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company. When Jabo, her husband died suddenly in 1966, Collye was left a widow at the age of 50. Collye continued to work for the next 18 years in food service management. She enjoyed her work, but her real vocation was being the most wonderful mother and Grandmother that anyone could ever know. Being a young grandmother made her more fun than most Grandmothers. She was always up for a lively card or board game and she loved to go sledding or roller skating with her grandkids. Her grandkids never thought of her as old and we all adored her. With her long legs, she walked faster than all of us and we loved it when she took us shopping or out to eat. At the age of 70, Collye had finally retired but she came out of retirement for about 6 months to get up every morning, drive across town and take care of her first great- grandchild. Collye was an active member of Centenary United Methodist Church and her later years were spent at Arbor Acres Methodist Retirement Home - many thanks to the wonderful staff who took such good care of her. Memorial service: Thursday, October 9, 2008, 2:00 p.m. @ Arbor Acres Memorials: Arbor Acres, 1240 Arbor Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104 or to the charity of your choice.

Memorials:
Arbor Acres, 1240 Arbor Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104 or to the charity of your choice.

Service:
Service at 02:00pm on October 9, 2008 at Arbor Acres