Dr. Willene Perkins

Funeral services will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Collier-Butler Chapel for Dr. Willene Perkins, 82, of Gadsden, who passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2014. Rev. Wally Kinsman will officiate. Burial will be at Forrest Cemetery. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.

Dr. Perkins graduated from Emma Sansom High School in 1950. She attended Trevecca University for two years then received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, her Master’s degree and her PhD from The University of Alabama. She went on to teach English at Southside High School in the late 1950’s, Gadsden High School in the early 1960’s and Gadsden State Community College from 1965 until she retired. While at Gadsden State she furnished housing for many foreign students. She went on mission trips to teach English in Russia, Africa, and China. She was very active in church ministries at Mercy Hill Church (Nazarene).

Dr. Perkins was preceded in death by her father, Jeff Perkins; mother, Mary Belle Perkins; brothers, James Perkins, Frank Perkins, Joe Perkins, and Bill Perkins; and sister, Francis Boyd.

She is survived by her sister, Betty Faulkner; three nephews; nine nieces; numerous grand nephews and nieces; and also numerous great-grand nephews and nieces.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Perkins, Frank Stevens, Neal Cook, Olen Battles, “Flip” Headrick, and John McFarland.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Boyd and Frank Boyd.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mercy Hill Church in memory of Dr. Willene Perkins.

The family wishes to thank special friend, Phyllis Pivivarnik; the members of Mercy Hill Church; to the staff of Gadsden Health and Rehab Center; and Lawley Hospice.

The family will accept friends from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home prior to the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.