Loretta Collins

Loretta “Nana” Young Collins, 85, resident of Brandon, MS, went home to be with her Lord and Savior early Saturday morning, April 23, 2022.

She was born January 25, 1937, in Hemphill, WV to the late Orlo Burke Young and Allie Marie Lawson Young. Loretta was a devoted wife of 49 years to SFC Paul Samuel Collins and mother to 7 children. She was an incredible woman of God with a servant’s heart; full of integrity, love, and would light up any room she was in. Loretta was not only a wife and mother, but also an amazing nana, a wise teacher, a good listener, an avid LSU football fan, and an extraordinary friend. Loretta was a Corp Sergeant Major with the Salvation Army in Princeton, WV, where she served as the senior citizen’s program director for 26 years, helped with the Sunbeam’s children program, traveled and assisted on many trips, led choir, and played the piano. She loved her family very much and felt immense joy when she was able to spend time with them. Loretta was full of strength and beauty, a pillar of her family, and she will be dearly missed by those who know and love her.

Loretta was preceded in death by her husband, SFC Paul Samuel Collins; her children, Robert Layne Foley, Carolyn Monroe and Marie Gonzales; parents and brother, Leonard Young.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Gwendolyn Wells and husband Ron, Melanie Foley, Bobby Foley, Kimberly McQuade and fiancé Leabert Wren; brother, Donald Young; daughter-in-law, Diana Foley; sister-in-law Pattie Collins and son Peanut; 14 grandchildren: Corina McDonald, Jessica Balam, Sabrina Enders, Lauren Foley and wife Carly, William Monroe, Carmen Cline, Tynessa Burgess, Brandon Hazelwood, Bayli Foley, Ashley Perez and husband Phillip McCollough, Mitchell Johnson and wife Amber, Katie Jeffreys and husband Garrett, Justin McQuade, and Chasitie Hunt; 18 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

A memorial service will be held 5:00 pm Friday, April 29, 2022, at the Salvation Army on 300 Princeton Avenue, Princeton, WV 24740 with visitation prior to the service at 4:00 pm. Major Amy Edmonds will officiate the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army at www.salvationarmy.org. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army at www.salvationarmy.org. You may also offer your online condolences at www.ottandlee.com.