Richard Dallas Collins, 78, of Jesup, Ga. died on February 9, 2024 at his home in Bishop after a long illness.  Born in Chicago, Ill. June 15, 1945, Richard was a Wayne County resident for 37 years and member of Epworth United Methodist Church in Jesup and later years Briarwood Baptist Church in Watkinsville. He worked for the State of Georgia, Family and Children Services, Mental Health Services, Gracewood State School and Hospital, professor for Waycross College, and retired from Georgia State Prison in Reidsville. Richard proudly served in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard.  He continued his servant heart as a member of the Anderson Drive Volunteer Fire Department, Georgia Council on Child Abuse, 4H Competition Judge, Jesup Lions Club, Boy Scouts, Wayne County Recreation Baseball and Football coach, Wayne County Integrity Council, and Wayne County Senior Citizen Council. His favorite pastime was spending time with his family. He also enjoyed volunteering with prison outreach ministries and prison GED programs, baseball and fishing. Richard was preceded in death by his father, William Harold Glavin; mother, Pauline Fingeret Collins; brother, Thomas Michael Glavin and sisters, Margaret Helen Johnson, and Claire Bernadette Clark.

Survivors are his wife of 54 years, Diann McLeroy Collins of Bishop; he was the proud father to Will Collins (Leigh Jacobs Collins) of Augusta and Colleen Collins Beasley (Robert Beasley) of Athens and grandchildren, Anabel Beasley, Dallas Smith, Presley Smith, Robert William Beasley, and Thomas Beasley, and loving nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life services will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, February 18, 2024 at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home Chapel.  Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be family and friends.

Family and friends will be received one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kairos Prison Ministry, 100 DeBary Plantation Blvd
DeBary, FL 32713.

Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.