Mitchell County Georgia Obituaries Laura Ann Fitzgerald Collins 1934 ****************************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ****************************************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sam Luckey Oct 2002 Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/mitchell.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Obituary of Laura Ann Fitzgerald Collins as written in "The Camilla Enterprise" dated 4 May 1934. Mrs. Laura Fitzgerald Collins, widow of the late L. A. M. Collins, one of the oldest pioneer citizens of the county and widely beloved woman, died at her home at Flint Saturday, 28 Apr 1934, morning at 11:30 AM after a lengthy illness due to the infirmities of old age. She had been an invalid for several years and during the past year the decline had been more rapid. All her children were with her when the end came Saturday. Funeral services took place Sunday, 29 Apr 1934, afternoon at 2:30 PM at Oakview cemetery, conducted by J. I. D. Miller, assisted by Rev S. H. Bennett. A large number of relatives and friends attended the service. Interment was in the family lot beside the husband and children of the deceased, who preceded her to the grave many years ago. The pall bearers were Messrs. Lee Collins, Chappell Collins, Raymond Collins, Lewis Collins, Julian Collins and A. R. Baggs. Mrs. Collins was in her ninety- third year. She was born in Stewart county June 14, 1841 and was the daughter of the late James Fitzgerald and Nancy Hilliard Fitzgerald. Her girlhood was spent in Stewart county and soon after the War Between the States she was married and moved to this county about the same time when so many other families came here from Stewart. Mr. and Mrs. Collins lived in Camilla for several years during their early married life and were among the pioneer citizens of Camilla. Their home was on the spot where the old J. B. Acree home was built many years later. Mrs. Collins was one of three Fitzgerald sisters to marry three brothers of the Collins family. Miss Jane Fitzgerald married Mr. Ben F. collins and Miss Mattie Fitzgerald married Mr. Charles Collins. Both of the Collins and Fitzgerald families had large connections and were widely prominent in the early history of this county and section. After leaving Camilla they moved to the present home place at Flint. Mrs. Collins was a woman of strong Christian character and high ideals characteristic of the pioneer woman of Georgia and this fine and Godly influence has gone out to mold the character and bless the lives of her children to the third generation, though her life was spent quietly in the home. She was a lifelong member of the Baptist church. She loved the church and gave to it her devoted service and never failing interest. She had gathered about herself a large number of friends and though many of the older ones had gone on to their reward before her, numerous others mourn with the bereaved family the passing of this saintly woman. Of a large family of twelve brothers and sisters, only two survive Mrs. Collins. They are Mrs. George Salter of Omaha and Mrs. Allie Simpson of Atlanta. Mrs. Collins is survived by three children, Messrs. G. D. Collins and J. E. Collins of Flint and Mrs. J. G. Polhill of Sylvester, fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren and a large number of other relatives. Among the relatives and friends here from a distance to attend the funeral were Mrs. E. L. Brawner of Lumpkin; Mr. and Mrs. Will Fitzgerald and Mrs. Scott Walker and Mr. Lewis Walker of Fitzgerald; Mrs. H. B. Lee of Waycross; Mr. and Mrs. Chappell Collins, Messrs. Marion and Albert Collins of Mt. Vernon; Mr. and Mrs. George Hubner of Moultrie; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Dupriest, Miss Mary Polhill, Mr. and Mrs. Westberry, Misses Merrill and Ida Westberry and Mrs. Dodie Dees of Sylvester, and Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Baggs of Pelham.