Emmett Collins of Rockford, Illinois, departed this earthly life on November 4, 2021. He was born on February 22, 1935, to Sadie Mae Blakney and Melton Collins in Shubuta, Mississippi. He married the late Carolyn Juanita Lott in April 1955. After Carolyn’s death in 1973, he married Rozene Anderson in February 1991. Emmett was self-employed in numerous professions and employed by Joseph Behr & Sons until he retired at the age of 78.
Emmett came to faith at St. Mary Baptist Church in Shubuta and sang with the Shubuta Southernaires gospel quartet. After moving to Rockford, he became a faithful member of Providence Baptist Church and then a founding member of New Direction Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church (now known as Hope Fellowship Church of Rockford).
He leaves behind his wife, Rozene; daughters, Gwendolyn Collins, Jacqueline Collins, Alexis Franklin of Rockford; daughter-in-law, Tamara Collins of Granger, Indiana; stepson, Douglas (Gail) Anderson of Rockford; sisters, Mercy D. Saulter, Mary (Essex) Price of Rockford and Ann-Marie Shepard of Carbondale, Illinois; brother, James (Gloria) Blakney of Rockford, 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Emmett was preceded in death by both parents, first wife, Carolyn; sons, Duwayne and Emmett L., and two brothers, Charlie and Roosevelt Blakney.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Providence Baptist Church, 2209 Clifton Ave., Rockford, IL 61102. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Burial in Willwood Burial Park, 7000 W. State St., Rockford, IL 61102. Arrangements completed by Collins & Stone Funeral Home, 128 S. 5th St., Rockford, IL 61104.
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