Rites Held Yesterday For Melinda Collins
Funeral services for Mrs Melinda Belle Collins, 90, Rt. 1, Willow Springs, were held at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon in Oak Grove Church with the Rev Ira Johnson officiating. She was the grandmother of Police Chief Eldon Collins.
Mrs Collins died at 4:50 pm Friday afternoon in West Plains Memorial Hospital where she was a patient since suffering a stroke Wednesday. She had been in poor health for several years.
She was born Apr. 24, 1870 in Kentucky to the late Granville Mahalia Sturgill Johnson. She came to Douglas County with her parents at the age of 9. She received her education in the schools at Douglas County.
In 1886 she was married to John Gilbert at the home of her parents. They established their home in Douglas county. Mr Gilbert died in 1900.
In 1901 she was married to James Franklin Collins at Ava. They made their home in the Oak Grove community. Mr Collins died in 1931.
She has been a member of the Little Zion Baptist Church since early womanhood.
Surviving are four sons, Charles Gilbert, West Plains, Riley Gilbert, Twin Bridges, Willis Gilbert, Rt 1, Willow Springs; and Oliver Collins, Pomona; four daughters, Dora Hartman, El Reno, Okla, Cora Cunningham, Twin Bridges, Elsie Hopkins, Drumright, Okla, and Ella Collins, Rt 1, Willow Springs; a sister, Millie Collins, Ft. Worth, TX; and a brother, Granville Johnson, West Plains. Two children by her marriage to Mr Collins preceded her in death as do six brothers and sisters.
Pallbearers were Gene Collins, Howard Collins, Harold Gilbert, Raymond Gilbert, Earl Gilbert, and Loyd Cunningham.
Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery under the direction of Robertson Funeral Home.
The greater part of her 43 grandchildren, 98 great grandchildren, 17 great great grandchildren, and step grandchildren attended the services.
Out of town relatives here for the services were Mr and Mrs O R Hopkins, Drumright, Okla., Mrs Dora Hartman, El Reno, Okla., Mr and Mrs Elmer Henderson, Tulsa, Okla.; Mrs Millie Collins and son, Leonard Collins, and granddaughter, Miss Erma Collins, Mr and Mrs Wiley Joe Collins, Homer Collins and Mr and Mrs Howard Collins, all of Ft Worth, Tx; Edd Gilbert and Dail Gilbert, Kansas City; Mr and Mrs Billy Haddock and daughter, Springfield; and Mrs Florence Johnson, state of California.