Dorothy E. Collins

Today, it’s not about who we have lost but rather about who we have had. We had Dorothy Elaine Holladay Collins and for that we are forever, grateful. Dorothy Elaine Holladay Collins was born in Aiken, South Carolina on September 30, 1959. She entered into the Kingdom of Heaven on February 7, 2014. Elaine lived her life counting her blessings, not mourning her losses. She was the child of Dorothy Stallings Oliver and David Moore and moved to Inwood, New York shortly after her birth. Once in New York, she was lovingly raised by the late Henry and Alice Holladay and was blessed to have the love and guidance of two sets of parents. Elaine spent her early educational years in the Lawrence, New York Public School system and was then enrolled in the prestigious private high school, Woodmere Academy. Elaine was an exceptional field hockey player and excelled as its star goalie. There she became best friends with the late Sandy Turner and together, they graduated in 1977. She then went on to attend Boston University, Medgar Evers College and John Jay School of Criminal Justice, receiving her degree in Criminal Justice. Elaine’s impressive career began as a Federal Corrections Officer with the Bureau of Prisons in February 1996. In July 1996, she joined the former Immigration and Naturalization Service as a District Adjudication Officer in New York, NY. From September 1996 to August 2003 she worked as a Detention Enforcement Officer in New York City before transferring to Cherry Hill, New Jersey as an Immigration Enforcement Agent. In March 2009, Officer Collins moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she was promoted to the position of Deportation Officer. Always performing her duties to the highest level of professionalism, throughout her tenure with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Dorothy worked in every operational component possible, as well as also serving as a Consular Liaison Officer. Elaine was a dedicated employee and devoted over 17 years of service to the Federal Government. However, from her extensive career, it is clear that she did not excel because she had “a job.” She was dedicated to the ideals of order and lawfulness, which were the guiding principles in her life. Elaine’s humor, kindness and quick wit will be deeply missed by her friends throughout the agency. Elaine’s meaningful days at work would not have been possible without her colleagues, Tracey Cammorto, Claudia Herbert, Dashanta Knight, Carlos Lopez, Brenda Maxwell , Monique Shirley and Sherry Moore. Elaine spent her entire career making hard decisions that were for the good of our nation, which she so proudly served. As a member of First Baptist Church in Far Rockaway, New York, Elaine relied heavily on her church family and her belief in God, both of which propelled her spirituality and profound sense of peace. She most recently became a member of the World Harvest Church in Roswell, Georgia where just weeks ago, she completed her New Members classes. Elaine was totally armed and prepared to be a Soldier for the Lord.

Besides the essential work that she did so well, Elaine played as hard as she worked. She was blessed to have travelled overseas with her adventures taking her to Belgium, Holland, France and Japan - just to name a few. With her extensive travels, shopping for small gems was another of her passions. All of her souvenirs were constant reminders of how great her life’s journey really was. Elaine’s bliss was found in all the people she loved and who loved her. Her most favorite moments were the days, hours, minutes spent with her beloved husband, Cecil Collins Jr. who she was united in Holy Matrimony with on July 1, 2006 as with her immediate family, including her mother, Dorothy Stallings Oliver; Brother and Sister-in-law William and Angela Oliver; nieces Amanda and Rebecca Oliver and nephew Charles Oliver; her father-in-law, Cecil “Pop” Collins, Sr. and brothers and sisters-in-law Marie Collins, Helen Collins, Marlene Collins, Lloyd Collins and Carl Collins. Her union with Cecil made her the proud “special mother and mother-in-law” of Tangier Robinson, Cecil and Valerie Collins III, Shicreta Murray, Don and Tiffany Collins and Simon Collins and “special grandmother” to Adrianna Johnson, Ava Collins, Brielle Collins and Camille Collins. Already in heaven greeting her arrival are her mother-in-law, Cecilia Collins; brother-in-law, Brian Collins and her aunts and uncles Beatrice Stallings, Edward Stallings, Magdalene Stallings and cousins, Mamie and Lawrence Murphy, Benjamin Germaine and Merdis Jackson. But as part of our African American heritage, there is no such thing as “extended family”. Our aunts, uncles and cousins are all part of our “village” and Elaine’s village is VAST.

Cherishing and celebrating her memory are also her aunts and uncles- Sarah Tanksley, James Stallings and Silas and Johnnie Mae Stallings; her cousins Tamara Perry, Loriann Stallings, Edward Stallings, Elaine Stallings, Gregory Stallings, Dwayne Perry, Tameisha Perry, Marques Perry, Keilah Perry, Kelvin Johnson, Jr., Marcus Johnson, Eva Marie Stallings, Gregory Stallings, Jr., Jessica Stallings and Vivian and Ray Chew; Godparents Rev. Amos and Mrs. Johnnie Lott; God Sister, Patricia Witherspoon; Goddaughter Loren Keli Scott and Great Godson Camilo Aiden Pesante. Today is all about the pleasure and honor of knowing Dorothy Elaine Holladay Collins. Elaine was always ahead of her time. As an insightful teenager, Elaine left these immortal words from one of her most favorite groups, Earth, Wind & Fire as the quote that accompanied her senior high school yearbook picture- “Paint a pretty smile each day. Living is a blessing.” Today is all about living…and the pretty smile of our precious Elaine.