SANTEE -- Tom Humphrey Collins, a Presbyterian minister and husband of Leslie Collins, died on January 26, 2018, at McLeod Regional Hospital Medical Center in Florence, South Carolina. He was 74.
Tom Collins frequently expressed that he had found three great loves in his life: his wife, Leslie, the Christian church, and Rutgers University, his alma mater. He was a joyful man who found satisfaction serving his parishioners, laughing with his friends and family, and fishing for bass in any lake or pond where he was permitted.
Tom Collins was born in 1943, in Morristown, N.J., to Harry Benjamin Collins and Meredith Mable Collins.
He attended Rutgers College, where he earned a B.A. in 1966. He often recounted his experience at Rutgers as a tremendous challenge, but he credited it with instilling in him a love of education, which he carried for the remainder of his life. He was a passionate fan of the school's football team.
After a few years of teaching, Tom Collins felt his call to the ministry and attended Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master's of Divinity in 1975. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1976 and later earned a doctorate of ministry from Drew University. After his ordination, Mr. Collins served jointly as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and the Second Presbyterian Church of Oxford, N.J.
In 1981, Tom moved to Scranton, Pa., with his young family to become pastor of Hickory Street Presbyterian Church Mr. Collins would remain at Hickory Street for 32 years. In 2015, Mr. Collins was recognized as pastor emeritus at Hickory Street Presbyterian Church in honor of his three decades of service and stewardship.
During his time in Scranton, Mr. Collins ministered not only to his loving congregation, but also to the community at large through his founding of the Bread Basket of Northeast Pennsylvania, his work in prison ministry, along with countless other acts of compassion, charity and outreach.
Mr. Collins was a devoted pastor, an erudite preacher, and a joyful presence in his community. He organized ecumenical worship services with other Christian congregations and cherished his many friendships in the church and in the ministry.
In 2011, Tom and Leslie moved to South Carolina where he became pastor of the Santee Presbyterian Church. There they found another loving and open-hearted community.
Tom was also blessed with the birth of two grandsons, Colman and Noah, who he cherished visiting at their home in Philadelphia.
Tom Collins is survived by his loving wife of 44 years; his sons Eli and Levi Collins, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Collins, Eli's wife. He also is survived by his grandchildren, Colman and Noah Collins. He is survived by his brothers, Harry and Raymond Collins, and his sister, Meredith Applegate.
A memorial service is to be held at 3 p.m. February 3, at Santee Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dr. George Chorba, Rev. Lisa Hermon and the Rev. Dr. Donnie Woods officiating. The family will receive friends after the service. A memorial service will be held in Scranton, PA later this year at a date to be decided.
Memorial Gifts are to be sent to Santee Presbyterian Church, P.O Box 649, Santee, SC 29142; Hickory Street Presbyterian Church, 435 Hickory St., Scranton, PA; or, The Breadbasket of NEPA, 550 Madison Ave., Scranton, PA 18510.
Tom Collins frequently expressed that he had found three great loves in his life: his wife, Leslie, the Christian church, and Rutgers University, his alma mater. He was a joyful man who found satisfaction serving his parishioners, laughing with his friends and family, and fishing for bass in any lake or pond where he was permitted.
Tom Collins was born in 1943, in Morristown, N.J., to Harry Benjamin Collins and Meredith Mable Collins.
He attended Rutgers College, where he earned a B.A. in 1966. He often recounted his experience at Rutgers as a tremendous challenge, but he credited it with instilling in him a love of education, which he carried for the remainder of his life. He was a passionate fan of the school's football team.
After a few years of teaching, Tom Collins felt his call to the ministry and attended Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master's of Divinity in 1975. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1976 and later earned a doctorate of ministry from Drew University. After his ordination, Mr. Collins served jointly as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and the Second Presbyterian Church of Oxford, N.J.
In 1981, Tom moved to Scranton, Pa., with his young family to become pastor of Hickory Street Presbyterian Church Mr. Collins would remain at Hickory Street for 32 years. In 2015, Mr. Collins was recognized as pastor emeritus at Hickory Street Presbyterian Church in honor of his three decades of service and stewardship.
During his time in Scranton, Mr. Collins ministered not only to his loving congregation, but also to the community at large through his founding of the Bread Basket of Northeast Pennsylvania, his work in prison ministry, along with countless other acts of compassion, charity and outreach.
Mr. Collins was a devoted pastor, an erudite preacher, and a joyful presence in his community. He organized ecumenical worship services with other Christian congregations and cherished his many friendships in the church and in the ministry.
In 2011, Tom and Leslie moved to South Carolina where he became pastor of the Santee Presbyterian Church. There they found another loving and open-hearted community.
Tom was also blessed with the birth of two grandsons, Colman and Noah, who he cherished visiting at their home in Philadelphia.
Tom Collins is survived by his loving wife of 44 years; his sons Eli and Levi Collins, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Collins, Eli's wife. He also is survived by his grandchildren, Colman and Noah Collins. He is survived by his brothers, Harry and Raymond Collins, and his sister, Meredith Applegate.
A memorial service is to be held at 3 p.m. February 3, at Santee Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dr. George Chorba, Rev. Lisa Hermon and the Rev. Dr. Donnie Woods officiating. The family will receive friends after the service. A memorial service will be held in Scranton, PA later this year at a date to be decided.
Memorial Gifts are to be sent to Santee Presbyterian Church, P.O Box 649, Santee, SC 29142; Hickory Street Presbyterian Church, 435 Hickory St., Scranton, PA; or, The Breadbasket of NEPA, 550 Madison Ave., Scranton, PA 18510.
SANTEE -- Tom Humphrey Collins, a Presbyterian minister and husband of Leslie Collins, died on January 26, 2018, at McLeod Regional Hospital Medical Center in Florence, South Carolina. He was 74.
Tom Collins frequently expressed that he had found three great loves in his life: his wife, Leslie, the Christian church, and Rutgers University, his alma mater. He was a joyful man who found satisfaction serving his parishioners, laughing with his friends and family, and fishing for bass in any lake or pond where he was permitted.
Tom Collins was born in 1943, in Morristown, N.J., to Harry Benjamin Collins and Meredith Mable Collins.
He attended Rutgers College, where he earned a B.A. in 1966. He often recounted his experience at Rutgers as a tremendous challenge, but he credited it with instilling in him a love of education, which he carried for the remainder of his life. He was a passionate fan of the school's football team.
After a few years of teaching, Tom Collins felt his call to the ministry and attended Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master's of Divinity in 1975. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1976 and later earned a doctorate of ministry from Drew University. After his ordination, Mr. Collins served jointly as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and the Second Presbyterian Church of Oxford, N.J.
In 1981, Tom moved to Scranton, Pa., with his young family to become pastor of Hickory Street Presbyterian Church Mr. Collins would remain at Hickory Street for 32 years. In 2015, Mr. Collins was recognized as pastor emeritus at Hickory Street Presbyterian Church in honor of his three decades of service and stewardship.
During his time in Scranton, Mr. Collins ministered not only to his loving congregation, but also to the community at large through his founding of the Bread Basket of Northeast Pennsylvania, his work in prison ministry, along with countless other acts of compassion, charity and outreach.
Mr. Collins was a devoted pastor, an erudite preacher, and a joyful presence in his community. He organized ecumenical worship services with other Christian congregations and cherished his many friendships in the church and in the ministry.
In 2011, Tom and Leslie moved to South Carolina where he became pastor of the Santee Presbyterian Church. There they found another loving and open-hearted community.
Tom was also blessed with the birth of two grandsons, Colman and Noah, who he cherished visiting at their home in Philadelphia.
Tom Collins is survived by his loving wife of 44 years; his sons Eli and Levi Collins, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Collins, Eli's wife. He also is survived by his grandchildren, Colman and Noah Collins. He is survived by his brothers, Harry and Raymond Collins, and his sister, Meredith Applegate.
A memorial service is to be held at 3 p.m. February 3, at Santee Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dr. George Chorba, Rev. Lisa Hermon and the Rev. Dr. Donnie Woods officiating. The family will receive friends after the service. A memorial service will be held in Scranton, PA later this year at a date to be decided.
Memorial Gifts are to be sent to Santee Presbyterian Church, P.O Box 649, Santee, SC 29142; Hickory Street Presbyterian Church, 435 Hickory St., Scranton, PA; or, The Breadbasket of NEPA, 550 Madison Ave., Scranton, PA 18510.
Tom Collins frequently expressed that he had found three great loves in his life: his wife, Leslie, the Christian church, and Rutgers University, his alma mater. He was a joyful man who found satisfaction serving his parishioners, laughing with his friends and family, and fishing for bass in any lake or pond where he was permitted.
Tom Collins was born in 1943, in Morristown, N.J., to Harry Benjamin Collins and Meredith Mable Collins.
He attended Rutgers College, where he earned a B.A. in 1966. He often recounted his experience at Rutgers as a tremendous challenge, but he credited it with instilling in him a love of education, which he carried for the remainder of his life. He was a passionate fan of the school's football team.
After a few years of teaching, Tom Collins felt his call to the ministry and attended Princeton Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master's of Divinity in 1975. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1976 and later earned a doctorate of ministry from Drew University. After his ordination, Mr. Collins served jointly as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and the Second Presbyterian Church of Oxford, N.J.
In 1981, Tom moved to Scranton, Pa., with his young family to become pastor of Hickory Street Presbyterian Church Mr. Collins would remain at Hickory Street for 32 years. In 2015, Mr. Collins was recognized as pastor emeritus at Hickory Street Presbyterian Church in honor of his three decades of service and stewardship.
During his time in Scranton, Mr. Collins ministered not only to his loving congregation, but also to the community at large through his founding of the Bread Basket of Northeast Pennsylvania, his work in prison ministry, along with countless other acts of compassion, charity and outreach.
Mr. Collins was a devoted pastor, an erudite preacher, and a joyful presence in his community. He organized ecumenical worship services with other Christian congregations and cherished his many friendships in the church and in the ministry.
In 2011, Tom and Leslie moved to South Carolina where he became pastor of the Santee Presbyterian Church. There they found another loving and open-hearted community.
Tom was also blessed with the birth of two grandsons, Colman and Noah, who he cherished visiting at their home in Philadelphia.
Tom Collins is survived by his loving wife of 44 years; his sons Eli and Levi Collins, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Collins, Eli's wife. He also is survived by his grandchildren, Colman and Noah Collins. He is survived by his brothers, Harry and Raymond Collins, and his sister, Meredith Applegate.
A memorial service is to be held at 3 p.m. February 3, at Santee Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dr. George Chorba, Rev. Lisa Hermon and the Rev. Dr. Donnie Woods officiating. The family will receive friends after the service. A memorial service will be held in Scranton, PA later this year at a date to be decided.
Memorial Gifts are to be sent to Santee Presbyterian Church, P.O Box 649, Santee, SC 29142; Hickory Street Presbyterian Church, 435 Hickory St., Scranton, PA; or, The Breadbasket of NEPA, 550 Madison Ave., Scranton, PA 18510.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
