Bennie Bernard 'B.B.' Collier's Obituary
PERRY-
Bennie Bernard "B.B." Collier, 94, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2015, after a brief illness. Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, September 6, 2015, at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home. Interment will be in Perry Memorial Gardens immediately following the service. The family will visit with friends on Saturday, September 5, 2015, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to Heart of Georgia Hospice Inpatient Care, 1120 Morningside Drive, Perry, GA 31069.
Mr. Collier was born in Crawford County to the late Tommie B. and Effie G. Moody Collier. After graduation from high school in Crawford County, he proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. West Point. During his service, he was proud to have been honored as his Captain's aide after their courageous journey to deliver a ship full of Germans back to Germany just after the start of World War II. While he was stationed in Key West working on sea planes, Mr. Collier met and married the love of his life, Edna Pearl Spencer. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, the couple returned to Perry to make their home and start a family. He accepted a position as an Aircraft Specialist with Civil Service at Robins Air Force Base, from where he retired 33 years later. Upon his retirement from RAFB, his strong desire to ride tractors led Mr. Collier to begin doing what he loved - farming. Through the years, he was fortunate enough to create the Collier Soybean, one that grows to be twice the size of a normal soybean plant. Later in life, he "dabbled" in horse racing, owning several horses that raced in Birmingham and Cincinnati. Mr. Collier always enjoyed riding in a classic car in any parade in Perry waving to the many friends and family as he rode the route. He was a former member of Salem Primitive Baptist Church in Crawford County. His family was his passion in life, treasuring every moment spent with them, never missing a birthday party or special event for his children, grandchildren, and even his great-grandchildren, who will all miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Edna Spencer Collier, and 3 brothers.
Left to cherish the memories of Mr. Collier are his children, Carol Norris (Steve) of Warner Robins, Catherine Rentz of Columbia, SC, Caran Sherwood (Don) of Lilburn, Tommie Collier (Jane) and Bennie B. Collier, Jr. (Cindy), both of Perry; his sister, Lula Batchelor of Perry; a brother Johnnie Collier (Velda) of Lovejoy; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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