James Collier Jr.

James E. "Jimmy" Collier, Jr., passed away on Thursday, April 12, 2012. Born November 29, 1924 in Ettrick, Virginia. He graduated from Petersburg High School, where he played football on the 1941 and 1942 teams. He served in World War II in the U. S. Navy from 1943-1946, and participated in several campaigns with the 7th Amphibious Force in the liberation of New Guinea and the Philippines Islands. After the war, he attended the College of William & Mary, Class of 1950. After school he signed on as an agent with Southland Life Insurance Co. until his retirement in 1981. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Eula Pond Collier and James E. (Duty) Collier, and a sister, Margaret Davis. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rosalyn M. Collier; two sons, James E. Collier III and wife, Marcia, and Christopher M. Collier; a daughter, Robin Benton and husband, Kent of Richmond; two sisters, Frances Pulley and Gayle Driskill of Chesterfield; four grandchildren, Cristin Drummond and husband Stephen, James Collier IV, Brett Benton and Carolyn Collier; two great grandchildren, Jackson Drummond and Catherine Drummond. A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 1:00P.M. at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 3110 Greenwood Avenue, Colonial Heights, VA. 23824 with Pastor Andy Brockelman officiating. Burial to follow in Southlawn Memorial Park, Prince George, Va. The family will receive friends at the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral , 2033 Boulevard on Sunday 3-4:30pm at the funeral home.