Mr. Walter Collins

COLLINS, Mr. Walter - Age 78, passed away Monday, February 13, 2017 at McLaren-Flint. Family hour 11:00 AM Monday, February 20, 2017 at Family Worship Center Church International, 3280 N. Linden Rd., with funeral service commencing at 12:00 PM. Pastor Patrick W. Sanders Jr., Eulogist, Pastor James Hodo, Presiding and Pastor Timothy R. Stokes, Host Pastor. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church at 11:00 AM Monday. Mr. Collins will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday, with the family present to receive friends from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Walter Joshua Collins Jr. was born December 23, 1938 in Sherrill, Arkansas to Walter Sr. and Edna Collins. He was born number 23 of 24 children. In his adolescent years, Walter was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Sherrill, Arkansas. Walter left school at the age of 13, and became a self-taught electrician and mechanic at the early age of 14. Walter was united in holy matrimony to Catherine Marilyn Brooks on January 16, 1961 and 3 lovely children were born to that union. After relocating to Flint, MI, in 1964, Walter worked numerous jobs that demonstrated his skill as an electrician. He worked for Jim Davison Auto Sales as a mechanic, Northwood RV as a mechanic and electrician, and then received his license and certification as an electrician before taking his job at Richfield RV and Trailer Supply as the manager of electricians. He was additionally employed by Arlean’s bar where he DJ’d. Walter retired in the late 1900’s from Richfield, but continued to use his electrician skills to serve family, friends, customers, and himself. There was nothing that he could not fix. He even built his garage by hand and poured a new driveway himself…after retirement age! Walter had many hobbies that made him the man that we all love today. He was a member of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Chester Payton Sr. and current Pastor Patrick Sanders, where he served as president of the usher board until his passing. He loved conversing with his special CB family in his CB club. He could throw down in the kitchen and his barbequing demonstrated his passion and skill for grilling. Walter was a funny man who cracked jokes all day long that would bring you to tears in laughter. He enjoyed quiet afternoons in front of the television, watching his black and whites, westerns, and listening to the Blues. Blues singer Bobby Rush was a personal friend of his. Walter leaves to cherish his memory five daughters: ArLene Collins, Pamela Johnson –Saginaw, MI, Lisa A. Collins, Connie (Jamar) Baker, Sharena (George) Huddleston and Amanda A. Collins; two sons: Kenneth Collins and Demetrius Collins – Muskegon, MI ; 20 grandchildren Keith Meadows, Rod Meadows, Carla Anderson, Mikko Johnson, Tyrus Gaines, Marilyn Ollie, Quandrel Ollie, Billie Rawls, Kenneth Collins Jr, Donald Collins, Daronique Collins, Keniyra Collins, Shannon Collins, William Baker, Joseph Baker, Zinaejah Ozier, Malaija Mitchell, Iviyanna Huddleston, Damarion Mitchell and Demetrius Collins; sister: Ethel Mae Thomas; and a host of friends including special friends Emmett Ellis Jr. (Bobby Rush), Gary Wicks, Linda Thomas, Joe-Cookie McNab, Linnon Wilson, Aaron Flood, Lavelle Barnette, Scipio Jones, Eddie “Shotgun” Dailey , George “Lightbulb” Hannah, and the rest of his CB family. Mr. Collins was proceeded in death by his parents, Walter and Edna Collins; wife, Catherine Marilyn Brooks-Collins, mother of his children, Shirley Mitchell; siblings, Geneva Williams, Bernice Collins Brooks, Luther Shavers, Earnest Moore, Hilrie Lee Moore, Edna Mae Hunter, Raymond T. Collins, Odell Collins, Erma Lee Sanders, Queen Ester Collins Walker, Moses Collins, Leberth Reynolds, Elizabeth Watts, Dallas Collins, and Ed Monroe; nephews, Clearance Thomas Jr. and Patrick Dale Collins. The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to McLaren Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department and Trauma team, 2nd floor Acute Care team, Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, Pastor Patrick W. Sanders, Jr. and Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Timothy Stokes and Family Worship Center Church, Pastor George Wilkinson and Word of Life Christian church, Scipio Jones and Deacon Earl and Roberta Jamison.

Mr. Walter Collins

December 23, 1938 - February 13, 2017