Thomas "Marshall" Collins, Jr.

     MARS HILL – Thomas Marshall Collins, Jr. was born December 18, 1941 in Jacksonville, FL, the son of a Baptist Pastor, Thomas M. Collins, Sr. and Gertrude Kooker Collins. The afternoon of March 4, 2024 Marshall passed from his earthly life while in his home surrounded by his wife of 59 years, Saralyn Monroe Collins and their two children, Mark Collins and Laura Collins Britton.

     Shortly after his birth, his father left for the Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX. Gertrude was to follow shortly when their new son was able to travel. But before they could leave, Marshall developed a serious case of pneumonia. His physician “pulled some strings” at the Naval Base in Jacksonville, and Marshall was the first infant in the entire US to receive this miraculous new drug, penicillin! 

     After pastorates in Texas throughout those seminary years, the family moved back to NW Florida area, where Marshall graduated from Walton High School, DeFuniak Springs, FL, 1960. He graduated from Samford University, Birmingham, AL 1965 (B.A.).

     Shortly after graduation, he was married to Saralyn Monroe (daughter of Dr. & Mrs. James L. Monroe)- another “preacher’s kid”. Unbeknownst to either of them, both fathers had known each other for many years and were very happy about the marriage. 

     Marshall graduated from Southwestern Bap. Theol. Seminary, Fort Worth, TX, in 1970, graduating with two Master’s Degrees - Master of Divinity and Master of Religious Education.

     He is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Marshall Collins, Sr.; mother, Gertrude Kooker Collins; and brother, George  Kooker Collins.

     Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Saralyn Monroe Collins; sister, Carol Collins; children, Thomas Mark Collins and Laura Elizabeth Collins Britton; and grandchildren, Jackson Marshall Garrett and Eli Monroe Britton.

     Marshall has been a member of First Baptist of Weaverville, NC since 2011 where he has served as a Deacon and sang bass in the Adult Choir.  His extensive contributions to humanity through ministry and community work are enumerated below.      

     A Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church Weaverville on Saturday, March 16 at 11:00am followed by a very common part of a minister’s life – a church-wide covered dish luncheon. All attendees are invited to participate. During this time, family and friends will share in telling and retelling some of the “many” stories Marshall loved to share with everyone. 

     Donations in Marshall’s name can be made to ABCCM – Transformation Village Ministry Fund | ABCCM.

MINISTRY

Min. of Music and Youth, First Bap. Ch., Granbury, TX 1965-68 

Pastor, First Bap. Ch., Rhome, TX 1968-70

Pastor, Calvary Bap. Ch., Dothan, AL 1970-76

Pastor, Tabernacle Bap. Ch., Raleigh, NC 1976-80

Pastor, Green Street Bap. Ch., High Point, NC 1980-83

Senior Program Director, Stewardship Ministries, Inc.   (Church capital funding)    

     1983 to 1990.

Consultant and Director of (Bond) Marketing for American Heritage Group, 

     Church Finance Specialists with headquarters in Orlando, FL (through 2005)

Active Member and Sunday School Teacher at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church,            

     Greensboro, NC.

Active Member and Deacon at College Park B.C., Orlando, FL. 1990-1993

Interim Pastor, West Orange Baptist Church, Oakland, FL 1992

Interim Pastor, John Young Community Church, Orlando, FL 1993

Pastor of First Baptist Church, Maitland, FL March 1993 to April 2003

DENOMINATIONAL EXPERIENCE

President, Dothan, Alabama Ministers’ Conference 1971- 72

President, South Alabama Ministers’ Conference 1972-73

President, Raleigh Associational Min. Conf. 1977-78

Chairman, North Carolina Task Force on Giving, 1978-80

Trustee, Baptist Sunday School Board (Nashville, TN) 1977-85

Member, Greater Orlando Baptist Association Language Missions Committee

Chairman, Demographics Committee, Mega Focus City Project of Greater 

     Orlando Baptist Association

Member, Finance Comm. Greater Orlando Baptist Association

Moderator - 1996-98 Greater Orlando Baptist Association

Co-Chair of Regional Advisory Group, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida

Organizer of a Monthly Fellowship Luncheon for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship  

     of Florida

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

Consultant for Stewardship Ministries Inc.- 1984 to 1994 - (Capital Gift 

     Campaigns)

Consultant for American Heritage Church Finance 1994 - 2005

Marketing and Marketing Director for American Heritage 1996 to 2005 (Bonds)

     Series 62, 63, and 24

Partner and Marketing Director for Church Growth Concepts 2005 - 2006  

Account Executive with Rives, Leavell & Co. - April 2006 - November 2007

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Personally Sponsored 40 Vietnamese Refugees in 1976

Chaplain, Raleigh Police Dept.

Messenger to Baptist World Alliance in Tokyo

Led mission trips to Israel and Middle East

Mission preaching (and construction) in Brazil 

Led Partnership Mission Trips to Indonesia

Hobbies: Teaching, Preaching, Writing, Oil painting, Woodworking, Genealogy, and Civil War history.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving Marshall’s family. Condolences may be offered to the family under his obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.