Elbert Eugene "Gene" Collins

Mr. Elbert Eugene "Gene" Collins, 71, of 302 Sunset Drive, Mount Airy, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at his home. Mr. Collins was born February 10, 1937, in Surry County, to the late Jim and Leenoir Boyles Collins. Gene was a stonecutter at North Carolina Granite Corporation for 16 years, and later for local stone companies. He was a member of the Baptist faith. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Opal Lane McMillian Collins of the home; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Jeannie and Frank Montgomery and Christy Creed, all of Mount Airy, and Patty and Charles Montgomery of Ararat, VA; three sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Dianne Collins of Ararat, VA, and Danny and Misty Collins and David and Crystal Collins, all of Mount Airy; seven grandchildren and spouses, Michael and Sheena Collins of Kansas City, MO, Barry and Dana Collins of High Point, and Danny Collins, Jr., Tony Collins, Christopher Smith, Brandy Quesinberry, and Heath and Jessica Montgomery, all of Mount Airy; three stepgrandchildren, Amanda Lara and Kelly Johnson, both of Mount Airy, and Dusty Creed of Pilot Mountain; eight great-grandchildren, Justice Creed, McKayla Creed, Salem Sykes, Braxton Montgomery, Jackson Sawyer, Tanner Collins, Summer Collins, and John Michael Collins; five great-stepgrandchildren, Katlyn Creed, Shawn Creed, L.G. Lara, Brittany Johnson, and Brandon Johnson; four sisters and two brothers-in-law, Annie Lee Vernon, Ruth and James Holt, and Rachel and Leon Puckett, all of Mount Airy, and Hazel Surratt of Cana, VA; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Mr. Collins was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Leftwich and Lindy Riddle; and three brothers, Harvey Collins, Dennis Collins, and Rossie Collins. The funeral service will be held Thursday May 1, 2008, at 2:00 PM at Northside Baptist Church in Mount Airy. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Dean Eaton, and burial will follow in the Collins Family Cemetery in Ararat, VA. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy, where his body will remain until taken to the church to lie-in-state 30 minutes prior to the service. Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions can be made to the Collins Family Cemetery Fund, c/o Randy Collins, 59 Horseback Lane, Ararat, VA 24053.