Wilma Hall Collum

Wilma Hall Collum, longtime resident of Jacksonville, passed away January 7, 2017 at age 85 under the gentle care of the staff of Someplace Like Home in Jacksonville, Florida, and with her family by her side. Wilma was born in Bladen County, North Carolina in 1931. She met her future husband, John Collum, in Wilmington, moved to Jacksonville, and was married in 1963. She was a devoted wife and exceptionally loving person, whose relationships with her husband, children, mother, sisters, and extended family brought her great joy, as well as occasion to exercise her family’s gift for mordant wit. As dedicated members of Southside Baptist Church, Wilma and John served in the church in various capacities. John was a deacon and involved with the youth of the church as a coach and mentor, and Wilma was a Sunday school teacher. They both were involved for years with other church-sponsored events and programs: They visited with homebound members of the church, delivered food through Meals on Wheels, and helped with the church’s Christmas program for the homeless.

Wilma is survived by her children, April Collum, and Eric Collum, their spouses, Mitchell Sweat and Trish Thomas; and by her sisters, Adell Hall and Shirley Doty, both of Jacksonville.

A celebration of Wilma’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 10:00 am at the Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida. www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).