May 23, 1926 – Feb. 10, 2019

NATCHEZ — A celebration of life service for Eugene Hester “Junior” Collins Jr., 92, of Natchez, who died peacefully Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, surrounded by his family at Natchez Health and Rehab, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial will follow at Roxie Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home.
A short reunion with refreshments will follow the burial at Roxie Baptist Church.
Mr. Collins was born May 23, 1926, in Roxie, the son of Eugene H. Collins Sr. and Anna Laura Collins.
At a young age, Junior Collins stepped up after the death of his father to help his mother raise his younger siblings. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 at the age of 18 and served aboard the U.S.S. Lexington during World War II.
He was an avid hunter, gardener, antique collector and youth sports enthusiast. He was a lifelong supporter of Adams County Christian School (ACCS) athletics. He was also a member of Stanton Baptist Church.
He retired from Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company after 35 years.
Collins was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Shelba J. Collins; two sisters, Mildred St. John and Christine Miller; and three brothers, Gerald Collins, William Collins and Prentiss “Buck” Collins.
Survivors include two children, Serena Collins Gandy of Natchez and Gene Collins and wife, Sonya, of Spring Branch, Texas; four grandchildren, Jason Gandy and wife, Sarah, of Gonzales, La., Eric Collins and wife, Baylie, of San Antonio, Texas, Tanner Collins of Blanco, Texas, and Hannah Dunaway of Vicksburg; one great-granddaughter, Amelia Collins Gandy, who she was named after; and sister-in-law, Edna Collins of Natchez.
Pallbearers will be David Carter, Wade Simpson, Greg Lee, Terry Freeman, Raymond Freeman and Christopher Dunaway.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.