James Edwin Busbin

James Edwin "Porky" Busbin passed away Monday, January 19, 2026 after 94 years of a wonderful life.

Edwin was born August 15, 1931 during the Depression in the Bill Arp Community of Douglas County. The youngest child of the late William Edgar and Eva May Daniel Busbin. He spent most of his younger childhood days on the farms that his father sharecropped. Like many depressions era families his father moved them frequently in search of a better life, until he took a job and settled into a career at the hosiery mill in Fullerville. Fullerville back then was a tight knit community full of hardworking, caring people. As a young pre-teen Edwin quickly made friends with numerous young people and began friendships that lasted a lifetime. In fact, he earned his nickname, "Porky" which was a rite of passage in that day and that community. As a young pre-teen he worked on and traded bicycles which proved to be beneficial for his job delivering newspapers and groceries in Villa Rica. He quit the grocery store to accept a job at Suttons Pharmacy (later Berry's Pharmacy) for a nickel an hour raise, and all the milkshakes a young man could drink, which was a very enticing offer for a young teenage boy.

He played football at Villa Rica High School for several years, coached by the late, great, Villa Rica legend Sam McIntyre. He wasn't known for his athleticism, but in his words "rode the bench as good as anybody".

Like a lot of young men of his generation, he quit school to enter the workforce. He moved to Atlanta and rented an apartment while working at Rich's Department Store in Downtown Atlanta– a job he thoroughly enjoyed but financially it just didn't pay the bills so he moved back home to Fullerville. He served briefly in the United States Navy but was discharged because of his bad knees. He bounced around several different jobs including working in the Hosiery Mill and running the Sinclair Service Station which was located at the corner of Highway 78 and South Dogwood Street, it was during this time he met and fell in love with Willie Tee Hicks. They were married and started keeping house on May 10, 1951. In the first years of their marriage, they rented a room from Mrs. Pearl Fuller which is now the Parsonage of Fullerville Baptist Church. In 1955 he began working at Lockheed and was blessed with a beautiful red-headed daughter on June 16, 1955-Brenda Jane Busbin.

Edwin and Willie Tee provided a loving and nurturing home, simply stated, the family didn't want for very much. After several years at Lockheed, Edwin would realize the factory life was not for him. He took a job selling life insurance for Gulf Life Insurance Co. where he ultimately found his niche as a salesman. It was during this time that Edwin began working with several different funeral homes in the West Georgia area. He worked funerals, made ambulance trips, and did just about everything a funeral service assistant would be called upon to do. His genuine, caring and thoughtful personality made him a perfect funeral service assistant. He began serving his Funeral Director Apprenticeship and in 1964 he was awarded the Funeral Director License's number by the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service. In 1966 he opened J. E. Busbin Funeral Home & Ambulance Service on Dallas Highway. Villa Rica was a small community and with limited resources and a teenage daughter to provide for Edwin ultimately gave up on his dream and began a career selling floor covering for Sears & Roebuck at the West End Store (later Northlake Mall) and ending his career at Cumberland Mall. Edwin enjoyed a very successful career at Sears earning top salesman of the year for southeast territory numerous times throughout his 30-year career. In the fall of 1971, Brenda married the love of her life, Doyal Collins and Edwin gained at son-in-law. At the time it really wasn't seen as a blessing but it didn't take long before Edwin loved him like his own son. Edwin and Tee enjoyed life together and traveled to Jamaica in 1973 to celebrate their anniversary. They took numerous trips out west to Texas, California, Las Vegas, Nevada, Washington State and British Columbia. They attended several World Fairs and numerous trips to the east and west coast of Florida. Always coming back with a suitcase, full of souvenirs for neighbors' kids and nieces and nephews. In 1976 Edwin became a grandfather with the birth of his grandson, James Allen "J." Collins. Edwin dabbled in a little bit of politics along the way serving on the City of Villa Rica planning and zoning board and later as a city councilman for the City of Villa Rica.

After his retirement from Sears, he opened Busbin's Flooring selling carpet and floor covering all around West Georgia. He did business the old-fashioned way with a handshake and a guarantee to please the customer. In 2002 he joined with his grandson to help found J. Collins Funeral Home in downtown Villa Rica. He was determined to make sure his grandson had the resources he needed to succeed. As the funeral home started to grow, he sold his flooring business and became the funeral home's first and only full-time unpaid employee. Edwin enjoyed working at the funeral home taking care of his friends and family during their times of need. He enjoyed being with people and never met a stranger. He could carry on a conversation with just about anyone from every walk of life. At the age of 80 he was blessed to be able to see the birth of his great grand-daughter, Janie Jo "JJ" Collins on October 20, 2011. JJ provided a much-needed spark for his life and he found great joy seeing her grow to become a vibrant teenager. As he grew older and finally reached retirement age at 87, he enjoyed visiting different churches around Villa Rica. He attended the First Pentecostal Church of Villa Rica, Villa Rica Free Holiness Church, Christ First Church and Victory Tabernacle before settling in at Fullerville Baptist Church. He was a proud member of The American Legion Post #70 in Villa Rica for many decades. He attended the Georgia Funeral Directors Convention in 2004 and 2014 where he was awarded his 40-Year and 50-Year pen for his years as a Georgia Funeral Director. When he passed away, he had been a Georgia State Licensed Funeral Director for over 61 years.

Survivors include his grandson and wife J. and Holly Collins, beloved great granddaughter Janie Jo "JJ" Collins. son-in-law and daughter-in-law Doyle and Virginia Collins. His special friend and companion Mrs. Jo Hicks, numerous nieces and nephews that he loved as his own and a host of extended relatives.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his only daughter, Brenda Jane Busbin Collins on September 20, 1997 and his beloved wife of 58-year Willie Tee Hicks Busbin on October 23, 2009, brother Hugh Busbin, J.D. Busbin and Artis Busbin along with his sister Evelyn Busbin Strawn.

The family will receive friends Wednesday January 21, 2026 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at J Collins Funeral Home

Funeral Service will be conducted Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM from the Busbin Chapel of J. Collins Funeral Home with Reverend Steve Swafford and Mr. Kerry Miller officiating. Eulogies will be given by Edwin's nephew, Jim Strawn and his grandson J. Collins. Music will be provided by Kelly McCord and The Servers.

Interment will follow in Melrose Hills Garden of Memories with Brad Towler, Jody Millians, Mark Ingram, Chris Agan, Perry Hicks and Joey Kelly serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Padgett, Darrell Huff and Ronnie Strawn.

In lieu of flower the family request donations be made to Brenda Busbin Collins Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of Edwin Busbin. Mailing address is: 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, Ga. 30118, make check payable to: University of West Georgia Foundation, Inc. Attn: Accounts Payable. This scholarship was created in memory of Edwin's daughter when she passed away.

The family would like to thank Heaven Sent Helpers for their thoughtfulness and caring during Edwin's last days and a special thanks to Amazing Grace Hospice and most Ms. Allie Fulcher for providing such professional, personal end of life care, for all, we are eternally grateful.

To send condolences to the family, visit our website at www.jcollinsfuneralhome.com

J. Collins Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Villa Rica in charge of arrangements.