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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Pastor
4John E. Collins Sr., who passed away on February 1, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins was born in Yazoo County,
6Mississippi to John Jr. and Laura B. Collins on September 14,
71955; he attended Paderewski and Robert Burns Elementary
8Schools and graduated from Westinghouse High School in 1974,
9which he affectionately referred to as "The House"; he married
10Gail Henning on February 3, 1979; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins owned and operated Collins Realty,
12a thriving real estate brokerage; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins was a charter member of Great True
14Vine Missionary Baptist Church, where he served faithfully; he
15was active in ministry and served as an organist, president of
16the choir, financial secretary, Sunday school teacher, and
17deacon; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins accepted the call to the ministry
19and preached his first sermon on April 27, 1991; he became a
20licensed minister on April 28, 1991, and he was ordained in
21September of that same year; he became the pastor of Great True

 

 

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1Vine Missionary Baptist Church on October 6, 1996; during this
2time, he also became a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins was committed to making a positive
4impact on the Austin Community; he established the Laura B.
5Collins Development Center; his church spearheaded,
6participated in, and partnered with several programs,
7including Feed the Hungry, Angel Tree, and Toys for Tots, and
8the church assisted with several shelters and provided PPE
9during the pandemic; in addition, his church housed several
10programs, including an after school and mentorship program, a
11rental assistance program, and employment and training
12programs; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins had a desire to remain a life-long
14learner; he attended the Christian Bible Institute and
15obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Morris Booker
16Memorial College; he received a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership
17and a Master of Christian Ministry from Faith Evangelical
18Seminary; most recently, he was pursuing his doctoral degree;
19and
 
20    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins was an undeniable leader and
21assumed several leadership roles, serving as vice president of
22the United Baptist State Convention of Illinois, vice
23president of the Congress of Christian Education of the United

 

 

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1Baptist State Congress of Illinois, vice president of New
2Baptist Ministers Fellowship of Chicago and Vicinity, and vice
3moderator for the Sunlight District Association; he also
4served as president of the New Baptist Ministers Fellowship
5and as vice moderator of the Sunlight District Association;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins was a hard worker and fierce
8provider; preaching was his calling, but his family was
9definitely his ministry; he adored his wife, children, and
10grandchildren and was always present and showed up in every
11capacity; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins was preceded in death by his
13parents and his brother, Dale; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Pastor Collins is survived by his wife of 45
15years, Gail; his children, Takisha (James), JaQuice, Brooke
16(Jeremiah), Tacori, Tamika, and John; his grandchildren, Ya'J,
17Morgan, Makayla, Mayson, London, Landon, Logan, Parker, and
18Lyric; his sister, Annie (Anthony); his brothers, Darrell
19(Kimberly) and Tyrone (Aishah); his bonus grandchildren;
20numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, sisters and
21brothers-in-law, and friends; and the congregation at Great
22True Vine Baptist Church; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
2HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we mourn the passing of Pastor John E. Collins Sr. and extend
4our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who
5knew and loved him; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Pastor Collins as an expression of
8our deepest sympathy.