Nancy R. Collins

Nancy R. Collins (86) of Christiansburg VA, died peacefully at home with family on October 15,
2023. The only child of Ellis and Nina Duvall Reynolds of Atkins, AR, Nancy is survived by
daughters Jana Collins Bundy (Paul Hyland) of Blandford Forum (UK) and Nancy ‘Krin’ Collins of
Christiansburg, VA and by her granddaughter Gretchen Yoes of Fort Smith, AR. She also leaves
three stepchildren: Leslie Clement of Sherwood, Stephanie Powell, and Michael (Melissa)
Powell of Little Rock. Her step-grandchildren are Jesse Ott and Christian Clement of North Little
Rock, Caitlyn, Sydney and Nicholas Powell of Little Rock, and Luke Clement of Fayetteville.
Nancy was preceded in death in 1983 by her husband James (Jim) Collins, III, Assistant Chief of
Fisheries with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. In 1987, she married William (Bill)
Powell, Jr., who died in 2010.
Nancy graduated with honors from Atkins High School, AR and later attended Arkansas
Polytechnic College (now Arkansas Tech) and Pulaski Technical College, satisfying her passion
for learning into her 70s.
As a youth, she worked alongside her father as a linotype operator and edited her high school
paper. Nancy was mainly a “stay-at-home mom” in the 1960s and 70s, but also worked at the
Morrilton Democrat, Batesville Guard Record, and Lonoke Democrat.
Nancy enjoyed helping others and promoting education, working with disadvantaged youths in
two roles, and was later Planning & Contracts Coordinator for City of LR. Later her career
included management at West Central Arkansas Planning & Development District, followed by a
return to the City of Little Rock as Case Manager-Supervisor under the Welfare to Work grant.
She enjoyed p-t work post-retirement with University of Arkansas (now UA-Little Rock) in the
Education Department.
In 2016, she moved to Christiansburg, VA with her daughter, Krin. She was docent for the
Montgomery Museum among other volunteer work. With the encouragement of family and
friends and technical assistance from her daughters, she published “Hopewell Heritage” about
her Atkins community.
Nancy was known for her sparkle, style, warmth, sense of humor, curiosity, generosity, ethics,
dedication to detail, and loyalty. She was a lovely woman.
A celebration of life will be held at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church in Little Rock on
Sat Oct 28 from 3-6 pm. Memorials: American Cancer Society or Oakland Cemetery (Atkins, AR).