Mary Ann Collins

Mary Ann Collins November 8, 1953- April 28, 2007 COLUMBUS, GA— Mary Ann Collins, 53, of Columbus, GA, lost her courageous battle with Leukemia with her family by her side, Saturday evening, April 28, 2007, at Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC. A Rosary will be held at 4:00 PM Tuesday, May 1, 2007, in the Striffler-Hamby chapel on Macon Rd. Her family will receive friends immediately afterward from 5:00 until 7:00 PM. All are invited to the funeral services at 1:00 PM, on Wednesday, May 2, 2007, at St. Anne Catholic Church, Columbus, GA, with Father Frank Patterson officiating, followed by a graveside service at Park Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Collins was born in Columbus, GA, daughter of the late Nicholas David Haick and Helen Mary Haick. She was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church. Mary Ann was a graduate of Kendrick High School and Columbus College, where she received a B.S. degree in special education. Immediately following graduation, she taught school for eight years. During those eight years, she coached girl's sports at Fort Middle School and became a trainer through the Muscogee County School District. She stayed home to raise her children but later became involved in teaching aerobic classes, personal training, and leading physical fitness classes at Columbus State University. Five years later, she became the manager of the Hughston Health Wellness Facility of The Hughston Clinic, to which she dedicated her career for the last 10 years of her life. It was there that she became the inspiration and encouragement for many members, offering them personalized fitness programs, health risk assessments, and aerobic and strength training while conducting countless classes for both adults and children. As a health care provider, she felt the need to reach out to the community and share the importance of being healthy and fit. As a result, she organized and marketed the Annual Hughston Health Fitness Challenge, a fitness competition and charitable event that is in its 8th year, which has raised more than $100,000.00 for various groups, including the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, the American Red Cross, and United Way. Her motto was "What we do for ourselves dies with us; what we do for others lives on forever," and therefore, Mary Ann found herself volunteering for the 1996 Olympics at the Columbus Olympic Village and much later with the Columbus Sports Council and their KIDS InMotion program. Even during her personal battle for life, Mary Ann helped raise more than $27,000.00 for the National Marrow Donor Program and promoted awareness in the local community about becoming a bone marrow donor. Mary Ann was happiest when she was making a difference in someone elseÕs life. Survivors include her two sons, Alec David (20) and Elliot Jackson (18), of Columbus; her devoted fiancŽ, Wayne Bishop, and his loving family of Columbus; her two older brothers, Nick D. Haick Jr. and his wife, Pat, of Locust Grove, GA, and their daughter, Natalie Helen; Jimmy D. Haick and his wife, Gail, of Columbus, GA, and their two sons, Jonathon D. Haick and Jeremy J. Haick; her younger sister, Patricia H. Neese and her husband, Van, of Gainesville, GA, and their children, Paul V. Neese, IV, and Helen N. Neese. Flowers will be accepted, and those desiring to do so may make contributions to the National Marrow Donor Program in memory of Mary Ann Collins. For information, visit http://www.marrow.org.