Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mrs. Dorothy Elnora Collins, affectionately known as “Doll,” was called home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, January 22, 2024, surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren in Raleigh, NC.

In Quinnimont, WV, Fayette County, Doll was born on April 27, 1926, to her late parents, Charles and Bertha Jackson.

In 1947, Dororthy married the love of her life, Willie “Wolfcat” Collins, raised eight children, and stayed adventurously married until his passing in 1991.

As a young woman, with primary education, Dorothy began to blossom into a phenomenal hairdresser, seamstress, and homemaker. Alongside her career, she enjoyed canning, cooking homemade meals, baking bread, taking care of her grandchildren, and devoting her life in WV at McAlpin Church, Stotesbury Baptist Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and served as one of the Mothers of the Church at Heart of God Ministries.

To be closer to her family, Doll moved to Raleigh, NC in 2009 and joined Abundant Life Christian Center and continued to serve as one of the Mothers of the church and mentor young women. As we all knew Doll, she has never met a stranger. From Doll’s first “Heyyy” she was forever friends with anyone she met. She was courageous, outspoken, funny, strong-willed, and faithful.

Dorothy is preceded in death by both of her parents, husband, Willie Collins Sr; children, Lawrence Jackson, Cora Donzella Collins, and Willie Jr. Collins; grandchildren, Debbie Jackson and Velina Ann Collins; sisters, Geneva Jackson, Annie Mae Dearmon Jones, and Lou Bertha Dearmon; and brothers, Charles Jackson, James Dearmon, Willie “Ranzie” Dearmon, Isaiah Zennie Dearmon, and George C. Dearmon.

Doll is survived by her sister, Evelyn Turner of Columbus, OH; children, Sylvia Jean Small of Cary, NC, Loretta Jo Walker of Knightdale, NC, Dwight Collins of Patterson, NJ, Bertha Hurtte (Tyrone) of Raleigh, NC, and Tony Collins (Sharon) of Raleigh, NC; 19 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; 30 great-great-grandchildren;, 1 great-great-great grandchild, a host of nieces and nephews and her beloved son-in-law, Jimmie Williams.

Funeral service will be 12:00PM Thursday, February 1, 2024 at Heart of God Ministries 1703 S. Kanawha St. Beckley with Bishop Fred T. Simms officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Beckley.

Friends, while wearing masks and observing social distancing, may view and visit with the family one-hour prior.

Email condolences to ritchiejohnsonfuneralparlor@gmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.