Rufus Perry Collins, Sr.

Reidsville,

Rufus Perry Collins , Sr . age 83, passed away Monday, April 27, 2015, at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Waycross, Georgia. He was born in Tattnall County November 15, 1931 to Brewton Carter and Okie Rogers Collins.  Rufus graduated from Reidsville High School, and he lived in Tattnall County all of his life.  He was a member of the Reidsville Baptist Church.  He served as a Director for the Tattnall County Farm Bureau for over fifty years.  He also served as a Committeeman for Farmers Home Administration and for the ASCS Board.

Rufus was an avid farmer.  Along with other crops, he grew peanuts for boiling; and thus earned him the name “The Peanut Man.”

He was known for being a kind, humble man, always with a smile on his face.  He was a gentle man as well as a gentleman.  Rufus was a family man and his family knew that he loved them.

He is preceded in death by his brothers, C.B. Collins, Edward Collins, and Jakie Collins; sisters, Irene Collins Sikes, Carrie Collins Waters, and Helen “Sunnie” Collins Holbrooke.

He is survived by the love of his life for 64 years, Ina Warren Collins of Reidsville.  He is also survived by his children, Janice Collins Parker (Wayman), Patricia Collins Cheney (John); and Perry Collins all of Reidsville; his grandchildren, Jason (Avery) Parker of Statesboro, Brandon (Natalie) Parker, Hilary Cheney McCall (Ches) all of Reidsville, and Malory Cheney Kicklighter (Kent) of Glennville; his five great grandchildren, Rieley and Sophie Parker of Statesboro, Matti and Mimi Parker and Tavren McCall all of Reidsville;  his brothers, Ira (Merelene) Collins of North Augusta, SC and Ben (Gwen) Collins of Florence, SC.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends beginning at 5:00pm on Wednesday from the Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory.  Funeral services will be conducted 2:00pm Thursday, April 30, 2015 from the Reidsville Baptist Church with the Reverends Steve Miller and Marc Foster officiating.  Interment will follow in the Reidsville City Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jason Parker, Brandon Parker, Ches McCall, Kent Kicklighter, David Waters, and Jimmy Warren.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ted Tatum, Bruce Purcell, past and present Board of Directors, and past and present staff of the Tattnall County Farm Bureau, Dennis Durrence, Lynn Deal, Dean Anderson, Ward Shuman, Cornelius Garrison, Don Jordan, Wayne Bland, and Reid Torrence.

The family would like to thank his caregivers Ann Church and Cathleen Sharpe, as well as Dr. Scott and his staff for the care and compassion shown to Rufus during his illness.

Memorials may be given to the Reidsville Baptist Church, PO Box 181, Reidsville, GA 30453.

Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Collins family.