BAY SPRINGS, Miss. — Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, at Bay Springs Baptist Church for Dr. Charlie Collins, 71, who died Friday, Sept. 18, at Jasper General Hospital in Bay Springs, Miss. Internment will follow at Bay Springs Cemetery. Dr. Frank Harmon and Rev. Clyde Little will officiate. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today, Sept. 20.

Dr. Collins was born Jan. 3, 1938, in Laurel, Miss. He graduated from George S. Gardiner High School in Laurel and Jones Junior College. After four years in the United States Army, he attended and received his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis in 1965. Dr. Collins worked as an Optometrist in Bay Springs for 41 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thurmon L. Sr. and Christine Collins; a brother, Larry; and a son, Jon Collins.

Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Shirley B. Collins; two sons, Dr. Chris Collins of Vicksburg and Phillip Collins of Bay Springs; grandchildren, Clint, Jessica, Casey, Christa, Phillip and Mary; two sisters, Gala Graham of Birmingham and Wilda Shoemaker of Hattiesburg; two brothers, Bobby Collins of Hattiesburg and Laurin Collins Williamsburg, Ky.

To honor the family’s request, in lieu of floral gifts, memorials may be made to one’s favorite charity.