Elder Raeford Collins

Elder Collins was born on September 11, 1935, in Mt. Gilead, NC. As a young man, he played high school football prior to graduating from Ellerbe High School in 1953. For many years after, Ray enjoyed a meaningful career as a truck driver for Drexel Heritage as well as Fredrickson Freight Company before retiring.

At an early age, Ray began a lifelong relationship with God and devoted much of his life to sharing The Gospel of Jesus to any and all that were willing to hear. He served diligently as an active Chairman of the Deacon Board at mercy Outreach Church of Deliverance as well as a Sunday schools Superintendent and a licensed ordained Elder of the Gospel under the leadership of the late Great apostle Addie L. Collins.

Ray was a fun loving, joyful man with a kind and generous spirit. During times of rest, he thoroughly enjoyed watching sports, and had been especially proud of the Carolina Panters in recent months. All who encountered him could look forward to a cheerful laugh, along with warm words of inspiration and encouragement. Ray will be truly missed by all who knew him.

Preceding him in death were his beloved wife of 40 years, Apostle Addie Lee Collins; his parents, William and Lula Collins of Richmond County, NC, daughter, Surada Washington Prince, four brothers and seven sisters.

Left to cherish his memory are five loving daughters, Linda Thomas of Rockingham, NC, Addie "Bunny" Washington of Dallas, TX, Diane Barrino Barber of Charlotte, NC, Christine Jackosn of High Point, NC and Clarena Collins of High Point, NC, one sister, Lucille Robinson of Mt. Gilead, NC, a host of grandchildren as well as a host of great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren, two grandchildren of which he raised in the home, Mikima and Kadejia Washington, special friends, Hector and Diane McCollum and a host of other relatives and friends.