Ms. Joetta Jane Collison, 56, of Parksley, passed away at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onancock on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Born Jan. 20, 1968, in Seattle, Wash., she was the daughter of the late Ronald Lee Collison and the late Erlene Joetta Trahan Collison.
Growing up, Joetta was a tomboy at heart. She loved all things outdoors, including deer hunting, fishing, and crabbing. She was often found at the bowling alley. In school she played in the band, and she was a boss on the softball field.
Joetta’s life revolved around helping others. She worked as a security guard for NASA for many years, and she was an active member of the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company. Joetta was passionate about her involvement with PVFC. She loved running calls as #738 and organizing fundraisers, especially the craft show.
Joetta was never afraid of a hard day’s work, and as a single mom of four, she stopped at nothing to make sure her babies never went without and had everything they needed. She made sure they knew what good music was all about, and they knew every song on the Poison album. Family cookouts were a must, and everyone looked forward to Joetta’s lasagna, fried chicken, mac and cheese, potato salad, eclair cake, and coconut cake. When her children’s and grandchildren’s birthdays came around, they knew their cakes were going to be one of a kind.
As hard as she worked, she sure loved to have just as much fun. A rabid Baltimore Ravens fan (Go B-More!) and forever a Dale Jr. fan, you couldn’t tell her anything about them that she didn’t already know. And Joetta loved vacationing with the kids and grandchildren. Last August, the family made it to Disney World, with a little disarray, a little pandemonium, a lot of chaos, and on a wing and a prayer — the way they loved living life (on their own terms). She worked hard, she played hard, and she loved even harder, especially when it came to her grandkids. She spent most of her time with her babies. When she wasn’t with them, she could surely be found with her best friend, Wayne, taking boat rides on Folly Creek, solving puzzles, playing cornhole and rummy, and having “just one” Corona.
Joetta was hard-headed, stubborn, prideful, and funny as hell, and every one of her children is proud to be cookie cutter versions of all that she was, having learned from her example of hard work, determination, and unwavering love.
She is survived by her children, Loretta Collison (Ian Kartak), Theresa Daughton (Brian Daughton), Ronald Collison (Shelby Stokes), and Amber Harris (Rod Woods); sister, Brenda Collison; grandchildren, Michelle, Christina, and Eliana Lee, Alaric and Kaeden Daughton, Brelynn Collison, Arielle Woods, Damon Lee, Peyton Daughton, and Bryson Collison; dear and special friend, Wayne Marshall Sr.; special nephew, Malcom Harris; several nieces and nephews; and many friends at the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company, all of whom were like family. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Lena Grauel.
A memorial service will be held Friday, June 14, at 1:30 p.m., in the chapel of the Williams Funeral Home in Parksley. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Immediately following the service, a reception will be at the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Williams Funeral Homes, P.O. Box 1, Parksley, VA 23421, or Parksley Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 14, Parksley, VA 23421 to assist with funeral expenses.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are by the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home.
