Don H. “IKE” Collins, 1928 – 2023

Don H. “IKE” Collins was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on January 21, 1928. His twin brother James G. “Mike” Collins preceded him in death on September 12, 2001. He graduated from Rolling Fork High School in 1946 and attended Mississippi College. He and his twin brother owned and operated a Pure Oil Service Station in Rolling Fork and a Gulf Oil Distribution in Anguilla.

Ike spent four years as an Electrician Technician in the United States Air Force, 677 Aircraft Control and Waring Squadron. After his time in the U.S. Air Force, he and his wife, Florine Kirby Collins, moved to Anguilla, MS where they raised their four children. Ike had the privilege of serving as an elected official in Sharkey County for twenty-four years as the Chancery and Circuit Clerk. He served on the Legislation Committee in the Chancery Clerk Association and was the Veteran officer and Red Cross Director in Sharkey County.

Some of Ike’s accomplishments include being a member of the Anguilla Rotary Club where he served as president of the club and was honored to have forty years of Perfect Attendance. He was a Board member and President of the Sharkey-Issaquena Community Hospital for twelve years; President of the Board of Directors of the Betty Newman Mental Health Center; Member of the Anguilla Fire Department where he was Fire Chief for several years; and a Charter member of the Rolling Fork Lions Club.

Ike was ordained as a Deacon at the First Baptist Church in Rolling Fork and taught the junior boys Sunday School class. While in Anguilla, he was the Church Treasurer of Anguilla Baptist Church for thirty-three years as well as a lifetime deacon and taught the Junior Boys Sunday School class. He was very active in the Sharkey-Issaquena Baptist Association serving as the Training Union Director and Treasurer.

Ike was also a Member of the Mississippi Delta Baptist Student Union Directors Association, representing the Sharkey-Issaquena Baptist Association.

Ike and his twin brother were very active in sports at Rolling Fork High School and later served as football and basketball officials in the Delta Officials Association. He played Semi-pro baseball for several years and played ball in the United States Air Force.

He spent a number of years in the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. While serving as a Scout Master for Troop 142 and 145, Ike was awarded the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service in the Scouting Program. He was Chairman of the Advancement Committee for the Three River District Scouting Program which consisted of Yazoo, Sharkey and Issaquena Counties and was selected as one of the three Scout Masters to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree in California.

After 40+ years in Anguilla, Ike and Florine moved to Hattiesburg, MS where they became volunteers at Wesley Medical Center. During this time of service Ike received the Ben Broom Award for the highest number of volunteer work hours (total of 73,840 hours) from 2011-2016.

Ike is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Florine Kirby Collins; his father, Thomas Jefferson Collins; his mother, Opal Johnson Collins; his twin brother James Gray (Mike) Collins and his sister Martha Ann Hiter. He is survived by his sister Janice Collins Wyatt (Kent) of Cleveland, MS; sister-in-law, Polly Collins of Rolling Fork, MS, his children, Don Haskell “Donnie” Collins, Jr. (Phyllis) of Madison, MS, Cissy Collins Smith (Johnny) of Rolling Fork, MS, Judy Collins Gill (John) of Sumrall, MS, Brenda Collins Lowery (Lance) of Raleigh, MS, twelve grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Monday, June 26, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Rolling Fork, MS. Visitation will be 2:00 P.M. till the hour of the service. Burial will be in Mound Cemetery.