Earl Edward Collins

COLLINS, Earl Edward – of Brentwood, TN, passed away on Thursday, the 9th of August 2012 at the age of 82. Ed was born in Nashville on the 1st of July 1930 to Robert Collins and Mattie Lou Morgan Collins. As a young adult, he was drafted in the Army, and as he dutifully served his country, little did he realize that his job duty of civil engineering would fortify him with skills that helped him to create a successful lifelong career. The spirited energy and drive within him led him to look at each day and each opportunity with optimism for the future. He earned a degree from Vanderbilt in 1958; and continued to work hard to accomplish many successful business ventures in life for nearly 50 years as a civil engineering entrepreneur, from working with Cumberland Valley Construction to being a prominent TN Road Builder, and former president of such. His business acumen was so valued by his employees and associates. He was humble and generous, and sincerely devoted to making sure his businesses were profitable, so that his employees were profitable. His success of paving the way for himself and his family, whom he adored, allowed a ripple effect of his prosperous actions to reach many other families and in turn, change their lives as well, and knowing that left him fulfilled. If there were only one thing to tell about Ed, it would be simply to tell about the love he had for his family. He was truly their rock and the heartbeat of the family. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Collins, his mother, Mattie Lou Collins, three brothers, Robert Collins, Jr., Hoyt Collins, and Samuel Collins, and sister, Margaret Mayo. Ed is survived, and will be forever loved, by his wife of 62 years, whom he had known since 7th grade, Estella Clarice Toombs Collins; his children, Carol Collins (Louis) Roberts, Robert Edward Collins, Linda Allison Collins, Merida Gayle (Fuad) Reveiz, and Teri Kay Collins; adored grandchildren, Allison Gail (Scott) D’Ottavio, Michael Lee Gilliam, Mark Robert Gilliam, Teri Christina West (Matias Hlem Almeida), James Edward West, Tara Colleen West, Nicholas Fuad (Brittany) Reveiz, Shane Collin Reveiz, Bryanna Gayle Reveiz, and Cheyanne Marie Collins; three great-grandchildren; and many special friends he considered family. These loved ones he championed to greatness throughout his life and theirs; and they all cherished, loved and valued him more than could ever be verbally described. His influence on not only them, but also countless others, by that ripple-effect his life touched… will be forever etched on their lives. His authentic joy was found in them, and will now live on through them. Ed was a faithful member of Covenant Baptist Church in Brentwood, TN and also a member of Christ Community Church in Orlando, FL. A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon of Monday, the 13th of August 2012 at Judson Baptist Church with Rev. Randall Jackson of Covenant Baptist Church and Jason Papuchis, a dear friend, officiating. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from noon until half-past one o’clock on Monday before the service begins. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Family to serve as casket bearers. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Ed’s name be directed to the Tennessee Road Builders Association (TRBA) Scholarship Program, 213 5th Ave N., Nashville, TN 37219, the largest provider of scholarships at the UT Civil Engineering Program, a lifelong passion that was so dear in his life. Arrangements by: Brentwood-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 9010 Church Street, Brentwood, TN 37027. (615)-373-3040. www.brentwood-roesch-pattonfuneralhome.com