James Newton “Son” Collins, age 89, passed away Friday, October 29, 2021 in Fort Myers, Florida. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Sunday, November 14, 2021 at the Mortimer National Funeral Home Chapel in Grenada, Mississippi. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Grenada. Visitation is Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Mortimer National Funeral Home.
James was the oldest of ten children and was born on September 3, 1932 in Grenada to the late Guy James Collins and Lula Mae Johnson Collins.
James was a truck driver for many years and loved being on the road. He also enjoyed traveling by car and seeing the country. James enjoyed telling stories about his travels and his life experiences. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served during the Korean Conflict. James was a loving dad, brother, and granddad.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Lula Mae Collins; three wives, Esther Collins Harrison, Janie Eudora “Sunny” Collins, and Sharon Dale Collins; one son, James Collins; three sisters, Linda Carol Garner, Doris Neal, and Mary Joyce McNatt; and two brothers, Paul Collins and Ray Collins.
James is survived by two daughters, Lana Marie Verplank and Deborah Jo Moloznik; two sisters, Barbara Ann Logan and Jenaile Costilow; two brothers, John Roy “Shorty“ Collins and Billy Wayne Collins; and five grandchildren, Christopher Verplank, Jr., Brittany Verplank, Connor Verplank, Tanner Verplank, and Laura Clarke.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hope Animal Sanctuary, 52 County Road 241, Grenada, MS 38901. Donations can also be made online at https://www.idausa.org/about/donation/. If making donation online, be sure to note that the donation is for Hope Sanctuary.
Mortimer National Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.