Charles Royce Collins, born march 9, 1935 of McDonough Ga passed
away peacefully June 21, 2026. Royce grew up in Fort Valley, Ga. The
only son of John and Myrtis Collins. He was a man shaped by hard
ground and harder work — the only
brother of 5 sisters he was born into a sharecropper family and later
worked their own farm. Starting in grade school he farmed the land
and provided for his family. A recipient of a full scholarship to the
university of Georgia in animal husbandry he instead became a
professional truck driver, driving until his 70s. He taught his children
and grandchildren to value hard work, how to fish, how to drive a nail,
and how to throw a punch. He taught us that famous Collins stubborn
tenacity. His hands never stopped working and making things.
Gardening, Woodwork, leatherwork, latch hook — and in his later
years, intricate dollhouses and wooden trains, built with the same
patience he gave to everything he loved.
He cared for his first wife Martha, through her years of cancer with a
faithfulness that defined what love means. Later in life, he found rich
love again with Linda, and together they built a beautiful marriage and
a continuous ministry of hospitality — church meals, open doors, and
his famous buttermilk biscuits. Into his late 80s, he ran a one-man
ministry mowing grass for the elderly and widowed in his community,
asking nothing in return. Pa was a humble man who deeply loved the
Lord and his church family.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, his first wife Martha, his son
Tony, and 3 of his sisters Ouida Jones, Carolyn Kitchens, and Edith
White. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years Linda Mays Collins
2 Sisters: Lavonna Middlebrooks, Jane (Johnny) Ward
Children: Wayne (Robin) Collins of Winston Salem NC, Brad
(Jennifer) Grant of Jonesboro Ga, Jennifer (Abner) McCright of San
Diego CA, Grandchildren: Tara (Matt) Samples of Memphis Tn, Shane (Kimberly)
Collins of Lake Butler FL, Jennifer (Mark) Richards of McDonough GA,
Scott (Kaitlyn) Bowles of Winston Salem NC, Hannah (Japeth)
Wagner of Stockbridge GA, Aubrey (Tristan) Forbes of San Pedro CA,
Kenslee McCright of San Diego CA,
Great grand children: Ema, Amelia, Caleb, Joshua, Cadence, Cuyler,
Callen, Alyssa, Maximus, Malciah, Alice, Eloise, Lincoln, Thompson,
and Theo. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at
First Christian Church of Jonesboro. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.