Aline Collins

Born in Center Point, Arkansas on October 18, 1934 to Percy and Pearl E. (Wright) Clardy, Sr., Aline attended Dunbar Elementary and then moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas in 1945. She then graduated from Coleman High School (1953), where she played basketball; and then moved to Washington, D.C. thereafter.

She then moved to Kansas City, KS and was part of an all female gospel group where they travelled to different churches to perform. Upon her return to Arkansas she attended Pine Vocational Technical School (now Southeast Arkansas College) to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Nursing was a dream of Aline’s, which she set out to accomplish.

She married Osceola Collins, Jr. on November 18, 1958, then moved to Kansas City, Missouri and at this time had two children; Osceola Collins, III and Brenda Ann. She gave birth to her third child, the only child not born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Barrato Keith Collins, Sr. They later returned to Pine Bluff, where she had two additional children, Linda Pearl and David Paul, giving her five children.

While Aline was studying to become a nurse, with four children and one on the way, she was determined to finish and obtain her nursing certification. She was the third African-American to graduate from the nursing program after the school had desegregated.

In 1973, Aline moved back to Kansas City, Missouri with her five children, where she worked as a nurse for Research Medical Center. She remained at Research Medical Center until her retirement in 1988.

Her oldest son, Osceola III, helped lead her life to Jesus, as a born-again Christian and continued to live a God-fearing, surrendered life.

Throughout her life, Aline knew that she was tremendously blessed, highly favored and deeply loved by God. She always gave thanks for all of her family, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Aline went home to be with her Lord and Savior, on the morning of Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at KU Medical Center, the same day as her birthday, becoming 82 years of age before her passing.

Aline leaves to cherish her memory five children: Osceola Collins, III (Valerie), Brenda Jackson (Keith), Barrato Keith Collins, Sr. (Rhonda), Linda Pearl, and David Collins; thirteen (13) grandchildren: Christopher (Jasmine), Crystal (Deon), Michael (Molly), Nicole (Larry), Dominic, Shondra (Michael), Barrato, Jr., Clinton, and Emanuel, and Shawn (Monique), Brittney, Blake and Brooke; and twelve (12) great-grandchildren: Daijha, Jordyn, Isabella, Olivia, Emorie, Landon, Caleb and Canaan, Vashawn, Corey, Kaylie, and Sylvoni. Aline also leaves to cherish her memory four sisters, Helen Montgomery, Doris Campbell, Nina Jones (Riley) and Sandra Wilson; two brothers, Elder Lincoln Clardy (Nina), Kenneth E. Clardy (Patricia), a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents Percy, Sr and Pearl Clardy, Aline was preceded in death by five siblings: Addie B. Leslie, Woody Clardy, Sr., Charlene Wallace, Percy Clardy, Jr. and Lillian Thompson; and one grandson, David Paul Collins, Jr.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 28, 2016 at 11:00am at Sheffield Family Life Center, 5700 Winner Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64127.

Burial services will follow in Mt. Moriah Cemetery at 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64131.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.