Lucy Jane Collins

Lucy Jane Collins - On September 9, 2017, Lucy Jane Collins entered into the presence of the Lord. She passed at the Groves Center of Lake Wales. Although she loved every verse of scripture from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, a verse that provided great inspiration to her is 1st John 4:10: " In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." And today, she is resting securely in the arms of Jesus, her Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. Lucy was born in Bartow, Florida to the late Joseph Robert Collins and Lucile Patterson Collins. Her family includes her sister and brother-in-law, Jolene and Marty Howell of Babson Park; her brother and sister-in-law, John and Carol Collins of Ormond Beach, nieces Emily H Rogers (Dane) of Lakeland, Cheryl Fountain (Danny) Ormond Beach, and Carla Kick, (Michael) Jacksonville, and nephews Todd E Howell ( Melinda) of Winter Garden, and Seth Collins (Cindi) of Macon, Ga as well as many great nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by her numerous friends in Bartow and her Christ Baptist Church brothers and sisters, who were blessed to spend seven years with Lucy as they worked, served, and worshipped with her. Lucy graduated from Bartow High School and Florida Southern College, and she also did post-graduate work as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar at University of Kent in Canterbury, United Kingdom. After twenty years of working in various administrative positions in Florida including Carter Belcourt Atkinson, P.A., C.P.A. of Lakeland. Lucy relocated to Wake Forest, NC where she attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating in 2012 with a Master of Arts degree. Her final employment was in Raleigh, NC as an administrative assistant for Lawrence Bolton, Attorney. Lucy's mind, talent, and spirit blessed all who were fortunate enough to know her. She was a brilliant student, a talented pianist and vocalist, a gifted teacher, and a precious child of God. Her kind words and gentle spirit were a reflection of Jesus. Whether she was teaching young people or those in a retirement home, she studied diligently and presented God's Word clearly and without error. She freely shared her talent of playing the piano and singing with the youth choir, the adult choir, and mission programs of First Baptist Church of Bartow and Christ Baptist Church of Raleigh. Everything she did was marked by excellence and done as unto the Lord. Lucy's life was a reflection of faith and devotion to her Lord. The family wishes to express their heartfelt love and appreciation to the staff of Abbottswood in Raleigh, The Grove Center of Lake Wales, her many loving caregives and to Karen and Alan Bullock who willingly and lovingly opened their home to Lucy and her family prior to her return to Florida. Visitation will be at First Baptist Church of Bartow on Friday September 15, 2017 from 10 - 11 A.M. followed by a celebration of her life at 11:00 A.M. at the church. A Memorial service will also be held at Christ Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC at 11 A.M.on Saturday, September 23, followed by a reception for all in the Gathering Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be donated to The Mission Fund of Christ Baptist Church, 400 Newton Rd. Raleigh, NC 27615, or The Memorial Scholarship fund of First Baptist Church of Bartow, 410 East Church St. Bartow FL 33830