Dorothy Grace Collins

Dorothy Grace Collins passed away peacefully on March 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. She was 100 years old.

She was born to the late Wilson and Lena Rachal, November 3, 1923 in Cloutierville, LA. She graduated from Saint Joseph Catholic Grammar School with honors and then attained her State of Louisiana Approved Negro High School Diploma on May 25, 1945 after working on the family farm, developing her work ethic with her late 5 siblings, Buck, Louis, Eloise, Daniel, and Marvin.

She married her beloved husband, the late then 1st Lieutenant Charles "Charlie" I. Collins, WWll, on June 16, 1943 and they relocated to Washington, DC in 1947. Dorothy is survived by her devoted three children: Marilyn, Hyacinth, and Christopher of Washington, DC. She is also survived by a host of relatives in Louisiana, California, North Carolina and across the nation.

Dorothy was a career employee for the Federal Government for over 40 years as a Statistician, assisting in the development of the CPI for the United States. Upon her retirement, Dorothy was involved in volunteer work throughout Washington, DC by assisting the DCPS tutoring students, leading Rosary prayers on a weekly basis at SDCC, serving those in need at SOME and SHARE, and working with the DC Board of Elections during election seasons.

She was a devout Catholic enjoying cooking, embroidery, talking politics, and sports especially baseball. She had an outgoing personality and attended several opening day MLB games involving the Senators/Nationals and NFL games involving the Redskins and Ravens. She had an acute business acumen, was frugal, amazing with numbers, and enjoyed playing cards specifically Casino and 21/Blackjack. lt was not uncommon for neighbors to see Dorothy taking a long walk from her house in her community and greeting all with her smile and a pleasant "Good Morning".

Up until the end, Dorothy Grace Collins excelled in motherhood by using her God given gifts of common sense, wisdom, fortitude, and fear of the Lord. She seized the opportunity and responsibility to transmit the Catholic faith to her children in their early training. She was dependable, caring, dedicated, resourceful, protective, and loving to her family members. She was the foundation of her family and already is missed so much. She often said in a time of crisis that "Where there is a will, there is a way". Her family and others have been truly blessed to have had her living her life of love for 100 years.