Cheryl McLean Collins

Martinez, GA – Cheryl McLean Collins, born November 16, 1945, passed away Friday, December 20, 2024, at the age of 79, surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at Fleming Baptist Church, on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at 12:00 P.M., with the Reverend John Barrett officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 11:00 A.M. until the hour of the service in the sanctuary.Mrs. Collins will be interred in the Stewart Family Cemetery, Alma, GA, on Friday, December 27, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. under the direction of Crosby Funeral Home, Alma, GA.

Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Simeon Lorier, Jake Lorier, Collin Godowns, Mills Murphy, Mitch Johnson and Matthew Godowns. The Collins Missionary Class will serve as honorary pallbearers.

She is proceeded in death by her parents Dewey and Dealie McLean, along with siblings Margie Pickering, Lamar McLean, Pat Stoner, and Johnny McLean.

She is survived by her loving husband Winston Collins of fifty-six years. She is also survived by her children Meredith (Mike) Godowns, Calvin (Ruth) Collins, and Shannon (Troy) Lorier. She has nine grandchildren Matthew (Sarah) Godowns, Katelynn (Mitch) Johnson, Natalie (Mills) Murphy, Sophia Collins, Collin Godowns, Esther Kate Collins, Simeon Lorier, Scout Lorier, and Jake Lorier and four great-grandchildren. Her surviving extended family includes brothers and sisters-in-law Dr. Myron and Betty Collins, Douglas and Rebecca Collins, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cheryl graduated from Georgia Southern College in 1967 and married Winston Collins, a farm boy from Clermont, Georgia, in 1968. Their adventure together lasted for the next fifty-six years. Cheryl taught for thirty years in Georgia public schools while Winston served in several churches as music minister and youth pastor. They raised two daughters and a son. She retired in 2003 from the Richmond County System after teaching English and French and finally serving as a Guidance Counselor at Hephzibah High School. From 2004 to 2008 Cheryl and Winston served as International Mission Board missionaries in San Jose, Costa Rica and Mexico City, Mexico. As Cheryl would say they loved God, each other, and their kids, and in that order. She knew herself to be a sinner saved by grace, forgiven and accepted by God the Father through faith in Jesus the Son.

Cheryl was a wonderful singer and loved to sing God's praises in church choirs led by her husband and as a soloist. She sang in the Warner Robbins' Community Chorus. Later with the Jubal chorus and Jubalheirs she toured Germany and France. She also taught Sunday School from her young adulthood until she could no longer teach at age 70. She was a gifted teacher and true friend to many throughout her life.

For the last thirty-three years her grandkids were a great joy to her. She prayed for them faithfully and delighted in their company. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends, but we rejoice that she is healed and in the presence of Jesus.

If desired, the family suggests memorials may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at imb.org/lottiemoon.

Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, 2502 Richmond Hill Road, Augusta, GA, 30906.

www.chanceandhydrick.com