Margaret Susan (Maggie) Collins

Margaret Susan Collins (Maggie) passed away May 15, 2015, after a six month battle with lung cancer. She spent her last weeks in the care of Mandrin House, Hospice of the Chesapeake.

Maggie was born on April 19th, 1927, in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she was raised by her loving aunt and uncle, Margaret and Lenear Ailstock. She moved to Baltimore, Md. at age 18 and performed on the vaudeville stage of the Gayety Theatre, where she met her first husband. They had two boys, John and Robert Nickel. During this time, Maggie was an accomplished trophy fisherman, and avid traveler.

She met her second husband in Ocean City, Maryland. As a military wife, Maggie lived in several areas of the United States, as well as England, and Germany. Maggie had a third son, Charles F. Shoul III.

Maggie enjoyed fashion and was employed for many years in the fashion office of the Hecht Co. in Baltimore, Md. where she orchestrated many successful fashion shows. She was also employed for over 30 years in the retailing industry, managing several local women's clothing stores.

She always loved to tap dance and continued that hobby as a member of Arnold Senior Center tappers well up into her 70's. She was runner up in the Miss Senior Maryland pageant.

She always remained especially fond of the region of her birthplace, and the highlight of her summer was the annual family reunion in Covington, Virginia, where she reveled in the company of family. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy.

Maggie is preceded in death by her son, Robert Nickel, her brother Robert Heatwole, and mother Elsie Dunn.
She is survived by her loving sister, Bettie Farmer, and brother-in-law, Bob Farmer, of Jarrettsville, Md., two sons, John Nickel, of Glen Burnie, Md., and Charles Shoul III of Annapolis, Md., daughter-in-law, Kathleen Shoul, as well as three granddaughters, Nicole Baracco, of Ocean City, Md., Stephanie Shoul, of Kent Island, Md., and Lauren Shoul, of Annapolis, Md.

Plans are underway for cremation and private burial at Oaklawn Cemetery, in Essex, Md.  A memorial celebration of Maggie's life will be held at Bruzdzinski Funeral Home, 1407 Old Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, Md. on May 30, 2015 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice of the Chesapeake will be appreciated.