Artie Odell Collins, 93, of Florence, Alabama died September 3, 2020 at North Alabama
Medical Center. Services will be conducted at noon on Saturday, September 5, at the
Springer Church of Christ, 1789 Summertown Hwy, Hohenwald, Tennessee with Bill
McDonald officiating. Burial will be in the Springer Cemetery. McDonald Funeral
Home is in charge of arrangements. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the visitation and
funeral will be limited. Visitation for the public will be from 10:30 to 11:30. Family
visitation will start at 11:30 followed by a family funeral service at noon. We request that
everyone wear masks and follow social distancing practices.
He was born on July 11, 1927 in Hickman County, Tennessee, near the town of Wrigley
to the late Earldon Elfry Collins and Martha Louise Baker Collins. He was preceded in
death by Gladys Marie Myatt Collins, his wife of 66 years. He is survived by his sons
Larry Collins and wife Anne of Florence, Alabama, Mike Collins and wife Wanda of
Dallas, Georgia, and Bill Collins and wife Sabrina of Crosby, Mississippi, daughter
Brenda Vick and husband Jerry of Gallatin, Tennessee; six grandchildren, Chris Collins,
Rusty Collins, Brad Vick, Holly Hester, Briana Nelson, and Will Collins; fourteen greatgrandchildren, Bailee Vick, Jenna Vick, Riley Vick, Reagan Vick, Nicholas Hester,
Maddey Hester, Claire Hester, Fisher Collins, Sawyer Collins, Briley Nelson, Jonah
Nelson, Liam Collins, Vivi Collins, and Lewis Collins. He is also survived by one sister,
Jewel Hamm of Nashville, Tennessee.
He was a member of the Jackson Heights Church of Christ in Florence, Alabama. He was
a gospel preacher for over 60 years. He preached full time in located work for the Church
of Christ in Lynnville, Tennessee; Lexington, Alabama; Dechard, Tennessee; Estill
Springs, Tennessee; and Capitol Hill in Winchester, Tennessee. He finished his full-time
preaching career as minister for the Springer Church of Christ near Hohenwald,
Tennessee for more than 30 years. During his career, he preached in more than 350
gospel meetings, lectureships, and vacation Bible schools in 12 states. He is also the
author of two volumes of chart sermons and an autobiography of his life.
Pallbearers will be Chris Collins, Brad Vick, Rusty Collins, Will Collins, Mike Nelson,
John Hester, Fisher Collins, Sawyer Collins, and Nicholas Hester. The education of
young ministers was very important to him. Memorials may be made to the Preaching
Scholarship Fund at Mars Hill Bible School, 698 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence, Alabama
35630 or to the general scholarship fund at Heritage Christian University, PO Box HCU,
Florence, Alabama 35630.
