Joe Ann Collins

Ms. Joe Ann Randle Collins was born on Wednesday, April 13, 1949 to the late Joseph and Juanita (Jolivet) Randle in Baldwin, Louisiana.  She was the 7th child of 13 and the 1st girl to survive, following the infant death of an older sister.   She was told by many of her father’s walk in the field to bury his first-born daughter, so her birth and ultimate survival after an illness as well made her the apple of her father’s eye and as such, she was affectionately known as “Dubes Girl”.  JoeAnn, as she was referred to growing up, later changing to Joe when she married and learned that Ann was actually her middle name, was educated in the St. Mary Parish School district, graduating from Park Avenue High School in 1968 (now known as Franklin Jr. High).

Joe accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized by the late Rev. C. E Baptiste at Special Providence Baptist Church in Baldwin, LA.  She was an active member of the New Hope Baptist Church in Seattle, WA during the 70’s and 80’s, New Covenant Christian Center and Restoration Life in the 90’s and 2000’s and later joined Our Savior’s Church in New Iberia, LA when she relocated back “home” in 2020.  Upon her illness, she returned to Seattle to be near her immediate family and attended Christ the King Bible Fellowship with her daughter. 

She was joined in marriage to Willie Collins, Jr. in 1969 and they built their home and family in Seattle, WA.   Since they both came from small town Charenton where nicknames were given to everyone, they both were adamant they wanted names for their children that came with automatic nicknames.  To this union 2 children were born, Jacqueline Denise and Reginald Marc, with natural nicknames of Jacquie and Reji!  Even though they later divorced, Joe and Willie remained friends until the end. 

Joe worked for Aetna Life & Casualty for 25 years until they were sold in 1995 to Travelers, where her daughter Jacquie works.  At that time she retired and joined First Choice Health Network where she retired in 2018, only to rejoin as an Independent Contractor for a short time in 2020 – 2021.   With her 2 long term jobs in the healthcare insurance industry, she made a host of lifetime friends she regularly met up with for lunch or dinner – the Aetna gang – Barb, Colleen, LaFawn, Yolanda, Mary and numerous others and her First Choice friends, Mikey, Angie and Velvet; she was always sharing stories of work shenanigans with these three! 

Anyone who knows Joe, knows she was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan – win or lose, she was all things Cowboys, never saying a disparaging word about them unless Tony Romo’s name was mentioned; for some reason, she just didn’t like him!  She dedicated a whole room in her home to the Cowboys, and NO ONE could enter that room – whether they hated or loved them – because she thought you might take something! 

The only thing that trumped the Dallas Cowboys, was Joe’s love for her grandchildren who affectionally called her “Grandmama”.  She was a self-proclaimed spoiler and took pleasure in doing the complete opposite of whatever their parents said!

We will miss Joe’s vibrant personality which began to diminish with her short illness, which she succumbed to on Tuesday, July 25th at 5:57am surrounded by family.  She leaves to cherish her memory her two children, Jacquie (Shawn) Harris and Regi Collins; 9 grandchildren, Dominic (Jordyn), Zachareah, Talib, Yasmin (Josh), Tyshawn, Ramadhan, Aqil, Amari and Aniyah; 3 great-grandchildren, Damian, Alanna and Kehlani – all of Kent/Auburn, WA.  2 Sisters, Barbara (Lawrence) Edmonds and Hilda (Eric) Mitchell both of Charenton, LA and 2 brothers, Henry Randle, Sr of Seattle, WA and Charles (Marva) Randle, Sr. of Baldwin, LA.  Special Sister-in-Laws, Albertha, Sandra, Alice, Lois and Myrtle Randle, Mary Boles and her special cousin-friend Margie Wagner along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.  She was proceeded in death by her parents, Joseph (Dube) and Juanita, 8 brothers, Nathanial, Joe Jr, Fred, Sr., Albert, Jules, Gerald, Sr., Eugene, Sr. and Harold Randle. 

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