John Venice Collins

He was born in Humboldt, Tennessee on April 30, 1943. He moved to Jacksonville with his parents in 1945 and graduated from Robert E. Lee Senior High School.

John married the love of his life, Mary Dale Cutsinger on May 12, 1971. They celebrated their 50th anniversary this year. Together, they have been faithful members of Faith Memorial Baptist Church for many years. He enjoyed driving the church bus, overseeing the kitchen, preparing meals for shut-ins, decorating for special occasions, and even helping with Vacation Bible School. Just two days before his death, he made his final contribution to a church project and apologized for being unable to carve the hams for upcoming holiday events.

John enjoyed a 30 year career with the Florida Division of Forestry. In those years, he fought forest fires, manned fire towers, coordinated fire control as a dispatcher, and retired as the Duty Officer Supervisor. After retirement in January 1996, he was self-employed for two years restoring antique furniture. In January 1998, he accepted a position at Faith Memorial Baptist Church to do custodial maintenance, but he did whatever was needed to assist with the ministries at the church. After working there almost 21 years, he retired for a second time in October 2018.

Over the years, John contributed to many meaningful projects and organizations. He had a deep love for the Great Smoky Mountains and maintained membership with its Association promoting preservation and public education. When Rachel was in high school, he found great joy in serving the band and chorus of Nathan B. Forrest High School by transporting equipment and working in the concession stand; he enjoyed it so much that he continued several years after Rachel graduated. He was also an inactive member of the Wesconnett Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, and the Morocco Shrine Temple.

John was a natural historian and craftsman. He spent many hours researching and maintaining family history and had an uncanny knack for remembering his and Mary’s genealogy going back several generations. He descended from a long line of craftsman; his woodwork, embroidery, and leather-craft were always of professional quality; anything less was unacceptable.

John was survived by his wife, Mary D. Collins, his daughter, Rachel L. Church and her husband, Kevin Church, his grandsons and their wives, Wesley and Erin Church, and Kameron and Kaylyn Church. He was very proud of his family and loved them all deeply.

A memorial service will be held at Faith Memorial Baptist Church Saturday, November 20, 2021. The family will receive friends from 10am – 11am and the service will begin at 11am. The church is located at 6731 Ramona Blvd., Jacksonville FL 32205. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Faith Memorial Baptist Church in his memory.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgriversidefuneralhome.com for the Collins family.