Jim Collins

Tupelo - James Whitfield "Jim" Collins, 85, died Monday, November 26, 2018, at Sanctuary Hospice House. He was born in Holly Springs, November 14, 1933, to Conner Dewitt and Annie Lewis Collins. He was a 1954 graduate of Holly Springs High School and graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1958. After spending more than 10 years with Union Planters National Bank in Memphis, Tennessee, Jim began working for Bank of Mississippi, now known as BancorpSouth, in 1966 where he held the positions of Vice Chairman, Vice President, Senior Vice President and President of lending until his retirement in 1998.

Jim was a member and past President of Tupelo Kiwanis Club and served on the Board of Governors at Tupelo Country Club. He also served as Chairman of the Community Development Foundation, President of Yocona Area Council, Vice Chairman of the Uptown Tupelo Business Administration and Treasurer of the Tupelo Community Concert  Association. He had the privilege to serve on the boards of the Salvation Army, First State Bank of Holly Springs, Lee County 4-H Advisory Council, Mississippi Economic Council, North Mississippi Medical Center Development Council, Lee County Red Cross, and Tupelo Redevelopment Agency. Jim was an avid golfer, duck hunter and fly fisherman. He enjoyed smoking cigars and the company of the people in his coffee and golfing groups. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Tupelo where he served on the Administrative Board.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Adams Collins of Tupelo; four children, Albert Adams Paxton, Amy Paxton Blossom and her husband, Benjamin, James Conner Collins and Joshua Rogan Collins all of Tupelo; six grandchildren, Lane Napier Baxter and her husband, Bo, and Andrew Jacob Napier and his fiancé, Chelsea Forsman, all of Tupelo, John Tucker Napier of San Diego, California and Benjamin David "Bo" Blossom, Jr., Carlyle Collins Blossom, and Charles Adams Blossom all of Tupelo; two great-grandchildren, Kate Elisabeth Baxter and Anna Scott Baxter both of Tupelo; and one sister, Brooks Collins Marr of Tupelo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, C.D. and Annie Collins; his first wife, Charlotte Kendrick Collins and two children, Ann Christine Collins and Kelley Kendrick Collins all who died in 1975; two sisters, Virginia Collins and Evelyn Collins; and one brother, Conner Dewitt Collins, Jr. who was killed in action during World War II.

Services honoring his life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, November 30, 2018 at First United Methodist Church with  Rev. Dr. Raigan Miskelley and Rev. Douglas Baker officiating. Private family graveside services will follow at Lee Memorial Park with Rev. Bill Bradford officiating. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.


Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until service time Friday, November 30, 2018 in Wesley Hall at First United Methodist Church.

Pallbearers will be Bob Moses, Merrill Johnston, Ray Reed, Pat Caldwell, Buddy Prude, Billy Hodges, Mickey Holliman, Dick Hill, Gerald Warfield, Guy Lipscomb, Wilson Long, Raiford Carter, Chan Brown and Richmond McCarty.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the Board of Directors of First State Bank in Holly Springs, John Godwin, Matthew Leathers, Mike Nolting, Andy Williamson and his morning coffee group at Johnnie's Drive-In.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Collins' caregivers, Darrell Gates, Helen Gable, Pee-Wee Warren and Terry Scott.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177 Tupelo, MS 38803, Yocona Area Council, 505 Air Park Rd. Tupelo, MS 38801 or First United Methodist Church, 412 Main St Tupelo, MS 38804.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .