Lorene McCollins

Obituary For Lorene McCollins

Born on February 9, 1924, in Water Valley, Mississippi, Lorene White McCollins was the fourth child born to Leonard White, Sr. and Addie Manuel White. She and her seven siblings spent their early years in Water Valley and were educated in the local schools and graduated from Davidson High School. Upon her graduation from high school, Lorene matriculated at Jackson State College in Jackson, Mississippi. After a fire destroyed the family home, the Whites moved to Mem­ phis, Tennessee, where Lorene transferred to LeMoyne College. At LeMoyne, she was inducted into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) on December 15, 1946.

Lorene met Leroy McCollins, a World-War II veteran, who had served with pride in the United States Navy, while still a college student. They married in 1947, and together they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Margarett Elaine the following year.

Having given her life to Jesus Christ at an early age, Lorene and her family were members of the St. Jude Missionary Baptist Church. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and occasionally served as chairperson of a variety of programs. For years she was the director of Christian Education at St. Jude while also participating in Citywide and State Baptist Associations. She took her roles seriously and worked tirelessly to fulfill her Kingdom assignments. She remained at St. Jude until she moved from Memphis.

Lorene was a devoted educator who taught in the Memphis City Schools for thirty-two years. For the first half of her career, she taught third grade at Hamilton Elementary School, and ultimately earned her Master's Degree in Education from Memphis State University. Years later, she was transferred to Charjean Elementary School and taught there until she happily retired in 1984.

Her passion for travel enriched her forty-year retirement, as she journeyed with her family, church members, and sorors. As a member of Beta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she traveled to many Boules and Regional Conferences, and chapter meetings were the highlight of her month.

From her youth, Lorene loved to dress. She was a conscientious and meticulous fashionista, who was recognized as one of Memphis's "10 Best Dressed Women." She held that title for several consecutive years.

In 2016, Lorene moved to New York to live with her daughter and family. She soon became a real New Yorker and loved taking special trips into Manhattan. Lorene was a true worshipper and was overjoyed to make the Greater Allen Cathedral, where her son-in-law and daughter pastored, her church home in New York. She cherished in-person worship, and in her later years, spent many hours watching services on You-Tube. She loved watching sermons of the late Bishop Gilbert Patterson. She could often be heard singing hymns and worship songs while sitting at the kitchen table, and after Sunday dinners, she frequently led the family in sing-alongs.

She was overjoyed when in 2021 she celebrated her 75th year of membership in AKA and earned the title of "Diamond Soror." She had the distinction of being the first Diamond Soror in the fifty-eight-year history of Theta Iota Omega Chapter, which she joined when she moved to New York.

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, Lorene transitioned from earth to Glory and is now worshipping around the throne of Jesus. In addition to her husband, Leroy, she was preceded in death by her parents and seven siblings, Onia, James, Clista, Fred, Martha, Johnny, and Leonard. She leaves to honor her legacy, her daughter, Elaine McCollins Flake and her son-in-law, Floyd Harold Flake. Her grandchildren, Aliya, Nailah, Robert Rasheed and Harold Hasan, her great granddaughter, Nia Renee, and a host of nieces and nephews, will also cherish her memory.

As we celebrate her noteworthy contributions and accomplishments, we will remember Lorene White McCollins for her unwavering faith, her remarkable sense of humor, her classy demeanor, and the love that she shared with all who knew her.

The family will receive friends Friday, October 2, 2024 from 4:00pm-6:00pm at RS Lewis & Sons 3651 Austin Peay Hwy, Memphis, TN 38128. Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, October 3, 2024 12:00 noon at St Jude Missionary Baptist Church 853 E Trigg Ave, Memphis, TN 38106

Internment will be in Forest Hill Midtown 1661 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38106