Mrs. Alphan (Duckworth) Collins left her family on earth to
join her Heavenly Father on Saturday, May 9, 2009. She was preceded in
death by
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Duckworth, brothers, Lafayette
Duckworth, Leance
Duckworth and her sisters, Atlanta MaGee, Atlee Bridges and infant
sister,
MyraAnne Duckworth. A long time resident of the city of Grand Rapids,
Mrs.
Alphan Collins, was born in Taylorsville, Mississippi on September 15,
1927.
She is survived by her husband and partner for life, Roma L. Collins.
Mr. and
Mrs. Collins would have celebrated their 61st Wedding Anniversary on
May 26,
2009. She is also survived by her four children, Dr. Carolyn
Collins-Bondon
(Alexander Thomas, Jr.); Romeo Collins (Bobbie Bryant); Casandra
Collins-Monroe
(Amos Monroe); and Robert L. Collins (Tracie Collins); six
grandchildren are
left to cherish her memory, Celeste Bondon Galloway, Esq. (Craig
Galloway);
Tamara Collins Carr (Romeo Carr); Brittany Collins; Christopher Monroe;
Bryson
Collins and Ashaunti Collins; two great grandchildren will miss her,
Haven
Galloway and Kennedy Collins. Mrs. Collins was baptized at a young age
in Pine
Valley Missionary Baptist Church in Taylorsville, Mississippi. Growing
up in
Pine Valley she served in various capacities. While in Mississippi,
Mrs.
Collins attended schools in Cherry Grove, Smith County Training School
and
Jackson State University. It was at Jackson State University that Mrs.
Collins
was introduced to Mr. Collins, her future husband, by one of his aunts.
Mrs.
Collins had the opportunity to teach in Mississippi upon earning a two
year
degree. In 1952, Mrs. Collins moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where she
united
with New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Being a dedicated and faithful
servant, she served at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church as the leader
of the
Cherub Choir; a long serving member of the Senior Usher Board, the Food
Bank,
as well as, in other capacities. Being civic minded her service to her
community touched many lives, as the longest serving Chairman and
precinct
worker in Grand Rapids. She retired from Grand Rapids Public Schools
after many
years of working as a Kindergarten paraprofessional, an elementary
library aid
as well as other duties during her 25 year tenure. Funeral services
will held
on Wednesday, May 13th at 11 a.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.
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