John Sterling

Collins

John Sterling Collins, the fourth of eight children born to the late Ernest and Lenora Collins on July 5, 1937 in Aberdeen, Mississippi. The other children born of the union are Ernestine Ware (Link), Rosemary Lawrence (Sammie), Roosevelt Collins-deceased (Lauri Anne), Robert Collins-deceased (Mattie), Ernest (Mack) Collins-deceased, Levi (Tootie) Collins-deceased (Sandy), Annie Collins, and Wilma George. John was also proud of and blessed with additional siblings: Samuel Vasser, Amanda Boggan, and Lois Miller-deceased.

In his early teens John hopped a train down there on White Rock Road and found himself in California where God blessed him to connect with a Christian family and he grew into a great man who enjoyed traveling and meeting people.

John became a famous heavyweight boxer by the name of John "Tiger" Collins. He sparred with such famous boxers as Casious Clay (Mohamad Ali), and Joe Fraser. During one of his travels he met and married Bobbie Jean Allen-deceased and they had six children. The children are John Fitzgerald Collins, Joseph Alan Collins, Paula Yvette Collins, Ricky Collins, Gail Michelle Collins, and Barbara Elizabeth Collins. John's grandchildren are Timothy Littleton, Tierra Collins, Jeffery Collins Rendele Collins, Alexander Collins, Quanisha Collins, Quajonna Collins, John Collins lll, Augene Collins, Taylon Collins, and Dashay Collins.

Throughout his life John cherished his brothers and sisters and all of his nieces and nephews that are too numerous to list by name, but the love was great.  It has to be acknowledged that John truly loved all of his in-laws as though they were his brothers and sisters.

John was referred around town as "The Boot Man" as he loved to buy and sell "authentic" cowboy boots.  John was a poet and songwriter and wrote more than two hundred songs. He was so proud to have met some famous people such as Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, George Wallace, Mohamad Ali, and Joe Fraser.  In spite of all of the people that he met and the places that he'd traveled, he said that the proudest day of his life was when he got Saved and baptized at 2 nd Baptist Church of Verona.  John loved his church family and they loved him as well.  We thank and bless the church family for being a loving support for John especially when other family was so far away.

In late October 2019, John's health declined rapidly, and after a brief stay in a Rehabilitation center, he was called to his heavenly home on January 1, 2020. He left this world saved and ready to meet our father God.

Leaving to celebrate his life and legacy are his six children, sisters & brothers, numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews, church family and great friends.

The children of John S. Collins would like to give special thanks and blessings to: Reverend Stone, Gary Trice, Gary Moore, Leon Bogan, and Reverend Eddie.