Colleen Abshire

Colleen “Trent” Abshire age 89 of Boones Mill passed peacefully from her earthly home to her heavenly home on February 11th, 2019. Colleen was born to the late Alonza and Nellie Trent on January 8th, 1930. She grew up in Southeast Roanoke, having many fond memories of her childhood and often telling stories that began with, “When I was a little girl in Riverdale…” Colleen married her only love J. Donald Abshire on October 16th, 1948. Colleen gave her life to the Lord soon thereafter, faithfully serving as a pastor’s wife and pianist throughout Donald’s time as the founding pastor of Boones Mill Grace Brethren Church. Colleen cherished her role as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She encouraged her family to do their best, make moral and Godly decisions, and always rejoiced with them in their victories. Colleen was a homemaker while raising her own children, later working part-time at Sharlane sewing factory, R.D. Hunt & Son Packing House, Tanglewood Kroger, and Boones Mill Elementary. Colleen enjoyed crafts, cooking, sewing, gardening and flowers, game shows, sudoku, and attending church and church trips and events. She was blessed with a large and loving family, affectionately called “Nana” by her “precious grandbabies” and “great-grandbabies.” She will be dearly missed by her loved ones, who are also celebrating the fact that she is in the presence of her Savior.
Colleen is survived by her son J.D. Abshire and his wife, Debbie; her daughter Yvonne Hodges and her husband, Donnie; granddaughter Beth Anne Deems, her husband Micheal, and sons, Tyler and Mikey; granddaughter Naomi, her fiancé Marty, and sons, Koen, Paxton, Finnegan, and Kevin; granddaughter Jessica Gardner, her husband, Cabell, and children, Abigail, Aydin, Anna, and Helen; granddaughter Whitney Artutis, her husband Justin, and son, Ellington; granddaughter Celeste Hodges, and son, Oaklyn; and special sister-in-law Janet Abshire. Colleen is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families: Rodney and Sharon Brown, Tommy and Deborah Trent, Mike and Vickie Mizak, Robin and Doug Settles, Steve and Kathy Mizak, Cecelia “Sissy” Erickson, Ricky Mizak, Darryl and Renee Abshire, Linda and Danny Cruff, Caroline and Steve Coble, Mark and Priscilla Guilliams, Sherry and David Neal, and Vickie and Dean Gurley. She also had many lifelong friends (Mabel Harris, Vivian Young, Starrine Pugh, Janie Burgess, and Louise Montgomery) and friends from Boones Mill Baptist Church who will miss her greatly. Colleen is preceded in death by her: parents Alonza and Nellie Trent; husband Donald Abshire; baby sister Runella Trent; brother, A.T. Trent (Jewell); sister, Cornelia “Cornie” Brown (Clifford); and special niece Andrea “Andi” Brown. She excitedly talked about the joy she would have in reuniting with them all in heaven. Colleen was truly loved by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Thursday February 14, 2019 at Conner-Bowman Funeral Home with Rev. Bob Greene and Rev. Ricky Mizak officiating. Interment will follow in Franklin Memorial Park.
Friends may call after 3 p.m. Wednesday with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of cut floral arrangements, the family requests potted flowers, plants, and dish gardens so that they can be enjoyed, planted, and live on in memory of Colleen.
Arrangements by Conner-Bowman Funeral Home, 62 VA Market Place Drive (Route 220 @ Wirtz Road) Rocky Mount. www.connerbowman.com (540)334-5151