Woman who volunteered at hospital weekly for 56 years dies

A Gainesville woman who devoted more than 26,000 hours of her life over the course of 55-plus year to volunteering at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville has died. Lorena Collins passed away on her 98th birthday, Thanksgiving Day, at the medical center.

Her volunteerism at the medical center is described in her obituary as “unmatched.” She served as a weekly volunteer for 57 years until the COVID pandemic in 2020. It was a deed that did not go unnoticed by Congress or the state of Georgia.

In 2013 Collins was awarded a special recognition certificate by Congress and a commendation by the Georgia governor for her five decades of service, exemplifying “the best qualities of Georgia’s citizens in her sincere devotion.”  She was also the recipient of multiple service awards during her lifetime of volunteer service.    

Her late husband, Cecil, was a longtime manager of the Social Security office in Gainesville.

The funeral will be at 11:00 Friday in the Gainesville First Baptist Church Chapel.

Click here to read the full obituary: Lorena Camp Collins Obituary | Nov 28, 2024 | Gainesville, GA