Deborah Elisabeth Collins

Deborah Elisabeth Collins passed away peacefully on February 9th, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Deborah lived a life marked by independence, quiet strength, humor, and a trusting heart. She was at times reclusive, but those who truly knew her understood the depth of her character and the warmth that lived beneath her reserved nature.

She dedicated her professional life to caring for others as a licensed optician, serving her community with skill and compassion until her retirement. Through her work and her life, she helped people see the world more clearly - in more ways than one.

Deborah was the mother of Elisabeth Angelina Reinecke(Steve Reinecke), Edward Randall Collins (Shelly Collins), and James Earl Collins (Amanda Collins). She was a grandmother to Theresa Delisle, Jennifer Delisle, Emily Collins, James Collins Jr., and Paige Collins, and a great-grandmother to Laila Mozingo and Phoenix Payton.

While no life is without its complexities, Deborah gave the greatest gift a mother can give - life itself. In her final days, she was not alone. She was accompanied by the presence, care, and love of her family, a quiet testament to bonds that endure beyond imperfections. In the end, what remained was love.

She will be remembered for her wit, her independence, and the lasting imprint she leaves on the generations that follow her.

Her memory will live on in the lives of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who knew her.

Visitation is 4:00-8:00 pm Monday at Lane Funeral Home, Ashland Terrace. A graveside service will be 10:30 am Tuesday in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415, (423) 877-3524, lanefh.com