James Ray Collins

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home for James Ray Collins, 99 of Collins, who passed from this life of Sunday, July 5, 2026, at his residence.

Reverend Grover Gunn will officiate at the services with interment to follow in the Collins City Cemetery with masonic rites at graveside. Special music will be provided by Reverend Joshua Spiers. Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Collins will be in charge of the arrangements.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, 3202 Highway 49, Collins, Mississippi, 39428.

His pallbearers will be Tommy Bryant, Russell Love, Cape Jones, Collin Jones, William Love and Riley Baggett. Honorary pallbearer will be Darth Barrier.

James Ray, or Tumble as he was affectionately called by his family, knew the Lord Jesus as his Savior and was an elder emeritus of the McDonald Chapel Presbyterian Church. He was also a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Okatoma Masonic Lodge. James Ray served his country in both the Merchant Marines (now the Coast Guard) and the Army during World War II. He was born the third son and fourth child to Tell Collins and Annye McDonald Collins, he spent his life living in and serving the Collins community. Building skills were the way of the Collins family and the Collins’ built many homes and remodeled many more. James Ray worked first as a brick Mason and later built Collins High School and saved the county much money by building or repairing all of the county schools and their additions for many years until his retirement from the Covington County School System.

James Ray Collins was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Edna Clotie Johnson Collins. They were quite a team in building many swings, furniture, bird and butterfly houses, doll furniture for their only granddaughter and his favorite woodworking endeavors were building numerous guitars, mandolins and other types of musical instruments. Music was a love and passion, and he appreciated a good sounding and perfectly tuned instrument. James Ray was the creative mastermind and woodworker, and Miss Tee was the “board holder”. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tell and Annye McDonald Collins; his wife, Edna Clotie Johnson Collins; his oldest granddaughter, Anna Caroline Love; three brothers, T.D. Collins, Bobby Collins, and Richard Collins; and one sister, Muriel Collins Compere.

Survivors include two daughters, Sandy (Tommy) Bryant and Amanda (Russell) Love; four grandchildren, Cape (Elizabeth) Jones, Collins (Angela) Jones, William (Brittany) Love, and AmyCatherine (Riley) Baggett; nine great-grandchildren, Bailey Jones, Ansley Jones, Ella Jo Jones, Emma James Jones, Collins Love, Charlotte Love, Claire Love, Henry Baggett, and Charles Baggett; two brothers, Harlan Collins and Hascal Collins; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Mr. Collins and the family were so blessed to have sitters, Wanda, Eva, Jill, Alison, Christine, and Ann, who so faithfully took great care of him for many years.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the McDonald Chapel Presbyterian Church, 295 East Williamsburg Road, Collins, MS. 39428.

Family members and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.billymkingcolonialchapel.com