Lateef Muhammad

Obituary For Lateef Muhammad

Born September 21, 1926 under the given name of Melvin Collins of New Orleans, Louisiana to the union of Laura Marshall and George Collins.

He received vocational training as a Merchant Marine serving from 1941-1968 as a cook, thereafter, working for The Nation of Islam 1968-1978.

Lateef completed The Fifth Pillar of Al-Islam when he made pilgrimage to The Holy City of Mecca in 1979-this “earned” him the title of Hajji Lateef Muhammad.

Lateef returned to the Merchant Marines serving through the Gulf War era and retiring for a second and final term in 1991 as head cook.

He traveled throughout the United States as well as various part of the world. Lateef departed this life on June 11, 2020 at his home in Sumrall, MS at the age of 93. Lateef was preceded in death by wives Ollie R. Collins, Earline Muhammad, and Marie Muhammad.

He leaves to cherish his memories his wife Florence Muhammad of 24 years. In 1995, when they join in holy matrimony, they operated a shop in the Islamic Community in New Orleans- “The Rahim Success Center”-and in 1998, they moved to New Medinah Muslim Community in Mississippi.

Lateef has six (6) children: Melvin Collins Jr. (Joycelyn), Janice Collins, Rodney Collins (Sharon), Sondra Fazende, Kenneth Collins (Donna), and Deborah Larkins. He is also survived by fifteen (15) grandchildren, twenty-three (23) great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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