James Thomas “J.T.” Collins of Athens, AL passed away peacefully Sept 20, 2018 surrounded by family at his home. He was 88.
J.T. was born May 10, 1930 in Limestone County.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William James and Julia Abernathy Collins,brother, J.W. Collins, daughter-in-law Carol Collins, and son-in-law Michael Dorning.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Nella Hannah Collins; three sons, Lakin Collins (wife Cindy), Dwight Collins (wife Betty Faye), Jon Collins (wife Kenneith); two daughters, Cathy Harrison (husband Pat), and Beth Dorning; 11 grandchildren, Brad Collins (wife Cherry), Will Collins (wife Sonja), Sarah Dorning, Josh Collins (wife Emily), Ben Collins (wife Shalis), Justin Dorning (wife Brandi), Lilly Collins, Maggie Harrison, Eddie Harrison, Jake Collins, and Joshua Harrison; and eight great-grandchildren, Arden Collins, Ethan Dorning, Nathan Collins, Whitby Collins, Nicholas Collins, Mary Evelyn Dorning, Cade Dorning, and Asher Collins.
J.T. was a member of Northside Church of Christ, the VFW, American Legion, and Athens Lions Club.
He is a 1948 graduate of Athens High School. While in high school, J.T. held several part-time jobs (dishwasher, grocery deliverer, dry goods store clerk, and soda fountain clerk at Limestone Drug Store). He worked for Athens Lumber Company as a truck driver, building materials salesman, estimator and construction supervisor.
J.T. served in the Alabama Army National Guard and is a Korean War Veteran. He was a member of the 1343rd Combat Engineers.
In 1960, he founded what later became Collins Supply, Inc. in Athens, beginning as a one-man company specializing in house plans and growing into a full-line hardware and building materials dealer that serviced customers throughout the Tennessee Valley. As president of Collins Supply, he was a residential and commercial contractor.
J.T. was a charter member and past president of Athens-Limestone Homebuilders Association, past president of Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce, and past president/honorary member of Athens-Limestone County Industrial Development Board. He was a past recipient of the Chamber’s Community Service and Citizen of the Year awards, and the Melvin Jones Fellow Award from the Alabama Lions Club.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Geri Green, Kelli Cottles, Tammy Strotheide, and Hospice of Limestone County for their care.
Visitation will be Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 from 1 – 2:45 p.m. at Limestone Chapel in Athens. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. in the chapel with Bud White and Pat Lawrence officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Brad Collins, Will Collins, Josh Collins, Ben Collins, Justin Dorning and Jake Collins. Honorary pallbearers will be Stanley Britton, Ricky Farrar, Ronnie Locke, J.W. McKinney, Bobby Turner and members of the Athens Lions Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Hospice of Limestone County or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
