James Tally Collins

MR. JAMES TALLY COLLINS, 75 of MOUNT GILEAD, NC passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at Stanly Regional Medical Center in Albemarle, NC.  Funeral Services will be held 2pm Sunday, March 8, 2015 at Leah R. Levin Memorial Auditorium, 102 S.School St., Mount Gilead, NC 27306, with Dr. Eric Leake, Eulogist. Interment will follow in the Ingram Chapel AME Zion Church Cemetery in Mount Gilead, NC.  A public viewing will be held 12 noon to 7pm Saturday, March 7, 2015 at  Harris Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Mount Gilead, NC.

Tally was a son of the late Edward David Kimbrew and Hazel Collins.  He was born December 27, 1939, in Montgomery County, North Carolina.

He joined Mountain Grove A.M.E. Zion Church at an early age and attended faithfully untl his health prevented him from doing so.  He was a Sunday School teacher, chairman of the Trustees and Steward Boards.  Tally was a graduate of Peabody High School in Troy, NC, where he was in the band and played the trumpet.  He received a certificate from Montgomery Community College in Troy, NC in small engine repair.  He retired from Jacob Creek Stone Company in Denton, NC.  His favorite past time was taking photos and spending time with his grandchildren.

Tally was joined in holy matrimony to Lula Mae Dumas Collins and to this union 6 children were born.  His parents, his wife Lula Mae and a daughter, Hazel Bernita Collins, all preceded him in death.  In 1995, he married Shirlene Gordon Colson.

Those left to cherish loving and fond memories are his wife, Shirlene Collins of Norwood, NC, three daughters, Betty Bennett (Rev. Hampton) of Mt. Gilead, NC, Wanda LeGrand (Willie) of Knoxville, TN, and Vera Richardson (Eric) of Mt. Gilead, NC; two sons, John Michael Collins (Bonita) and Vernon Collins (Sharrion) all of Mt. Gilead, NC; step children; Bridget Colson of Las Vegas, NV, Marshall Snuggs (Kerry) and Robbie Colson (Wanda), all of Charlotte, NC, Taris Colson of Norwood, NC and Darcy Colson of Maryville, TN; 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 14 step-grandchildren, 6 step-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Melissa Kimbrew, Joyce Little (Anthony), Denise Bruton and Pam Williams (Michael), all of Rockingham, NC; four brothers; Dewey Kimbrew of West End, NC, Min. Floyd Kimbrew of Eagle Springs, NC, James Watkins of Asheboro, NC and David Watkins(Dale) of Mt. Gilead, NC; four foster sisters; Betty Braye of Baltimore, MD, Shelia Rowe of Woodstock, MD, Helen D. McAuley and Addie R. McAuley, both of Charlotte, NC; three best friends, Robert Dumas (Katie), Lester Haywood (Myrtle) and Charles Smith (Nell), and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends.