Charles Wayne Collins

Mr. Charles Wayne Collins, age 86, of Thomaston, Georgia passed away on April 16, 2025 at his residence.  

Mr. Collins was born in Upson County on December 8, 1938 to the late James Louie Collins and the late Ruby Gooden Collins.  He attended R. E. Lee Institute where he played on the football and basketball teams.  As a member of the ROTC, he was named Battalion Commander his senior year.  He graduated in 1957.  After high school, Mr. Collins enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and received basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.  Following training, he was assigned to the 25th Air Division at McChord AFB in Tacoma, Washington. In 1958 he transferred to the 758th AC&W Squadron at Makah AFB in Neah Bay, Washington.  The following year he received overseas orders and was reassigned to Osan, Korea where he served until 1961.  Upon returning to the United States, Mr. Collins served in the inactive Air Force Reserves and received an honorable discharge in August 1963.  Mr. Collins continued his education at Gordon Military College where he graduated with an Associate in Arts degree in June 1969.  He also attended Mercer University and Andersonville Baptist Seminary.  He began his career with the Atlanta Gas Light Company in 1962 and retired in 1995 having worked his way up to the position of Superintendent.

Wayne accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior during revival services at Valley Grove Baptist Church in Thomaston, Georgia.   Through the years, he served in many church leadership positions including being a Sunday School teacher and Discipleship Training teacher and director. He was ordained as a deacon at Valley Grove Baptist Church in March 1974.  He loved telling others about Jesus and eventually accepted the call to preach.  In October 1976  he was ordained into the gospel ministry by Valley Grove Baptist Church. During his lifetime, he pastored three churches in the Centennial Baptist Association (Elkins Creek Baptist, Sylvia Hill Baptist, and Twin Oaks Baptist).  He also served as interim at several churches in the area. He was currently a member of First Baptist Church of Thomaston. Wayne was a lifelong learner.  His varied interests included reading, studying the Bible, writing stories and poems, and bodybuilding.  He had a wonderful sense of humor.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 65 years, 3 months, and 16 days, Martha Ann McFarlin Collins, and two children, Karen (John) Blevins of Thomaston and Reggie (Tara) Collins of Jackson, Georgia; six grandchildren: Logan (Chelsea) Collins, Ben (Reagan) Blevins, Rachel Blevins, Rebekah Collins, Jacob Blevins and Garrett (Jennifer) Collins.  He was blessed with three great-grandchildren: Kynslee, Keller, and Lincoln Collins.  Wayne is also survived by two brothers, Javan (Shirley) Collins of Thomaston, Glenn (Patricia) Collins of Thomaston, and one sister, Patricia (Eddie) Stowers of Alpharetta, Georgia.  Several nieces and nephews also survive. 

The family appreciates the care he received from the nurses at Thomaston Hospice and his sitters: Valerie Smith, Natrica Mayes, and Britini Jordan.  Wayne was an exceptional husband, daddy, granddaddy, great-granddaddy and brother, who loved his family very much.  He will be greatly missed!

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 11:00 am in the Chapel of Coggins Funeral Home. Rev. Rex King will officiate.   Burial with military honors will follow in Crystal Hill Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at Coggins Funeral Home on Friday, April 18, 2025 from 5-7 pm.  Those desiring to make memorial donations can contribute to The Gideons International at P.O. Box 1034, Thomaston, GA 30286.