Carl A. Collins Jr.

Dr. Carl A. Collins, Jr., 95, of Daleville, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 15, 2011. Dr. Collins was born in Montgomery County. When he was three years old, his father died, leaving his mother with the burden of raising five children. By the time he was nine, Carl was more or less on his own. He studied in the public schools in Lynchburg and Christiansburg, and received his higher education at the University of Richmond, Lynchburg College, Harvard University, Union Theological Seminary, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While in Europe during World War II, Carl was selected by the United States Armed Forces to attend Oxford University. He also attended The Command and Staff University at Maxwell Air Force Base while he was a Chaplain in the United States Air Force. Dr. Collins received his B. A. Degree from Lynchburg College, and his Master's and Doctorate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2003, Carl received an honorary Bachelor of Letters Degree from the University of Richmond.
He was the widower of the former Mildred Conner, who was the daughter of the late Reverend and Mrs. N. A. Conner. Rev. Conner, a United Methodist minister, served in the Holston and Virginia Conferences for many years. Carl and Mildred were married for 65 years, until her passing on June 12, 2003. The Collins had two sons who preceded them in death, Carlton Douglas and Dwight Curtis ("Chuck"). Surviving are two granddaughters, Catherine Collins Stennette and Rebekah Collins Pisenti, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to several pastorates in Virginia (including seven years as pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Salem), he served churches in North Carolina and Texas. Carl served Virginia Baptists through the Sunday School and Church Training Departments. For three years he taught Sociology, and was head of the Sociology Department at Wingate College, a Southern Baptist College in Wingate, N.C.
One of his "first loves" was that of the military chaplaincy. He served his country prior to World War II in Panama. He waded ashore on the beachhead in Normandy in World War II, and was in the Southwest Pacific during the Korean Conflict. Carl also served during the Vietnam Conflict. Dr. Collins was in and out of the service, recalled several times for special assignments until his retirement from the military with the rank of Colonel. He served a total of 35 years, receiving three commendations for meritorious service and was a recipient of the Military Cross.
In 1982, the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention invited Carl to go to Indonesia to participate in one of the first Volunteer Partnership Evangelism Crusades. In 1983, he, his wife, and two others from the Catawba Valley Baptist Church went to Japan by invitation from the Foreign Mission Board to participate in another Partnership Evangelism Crusade.
Dr. Collins undertook 25 voluntary mission trips overseas, preaching on every continent except the Antarctic. He authored a book, "Paul as a Leader", published by Exposition Press in New York, which was a study of the Apostle Paul's role and influence in the field of Christian education.
Carl was a former vice president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. He served two terms as moderator of the Lynchburg Baptist Association, two terms as moderator of the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association, and one term as president of Roanoke Baptist Missionary and Social Union. He served two terms on the Virginia Baptist General Board, was a representative from the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association, and was a trustee at Oak Hill Academy. Dr. Collins was a former employee of the Virginia Baptist Sunday School Department, a former employee of Virginia Baptist Training Union Department, a former trustee of Virginia Baptist Children's Home in Salem, and a former trustee of Chaplains Services of Churches of Virginia. Carl organized Truck Stop Christian Ministries in Troutville.
At the end of 1988, Dr. Collins completed almost ten years as pastor of Catawba Valley Baptist Church, and from January thru March of 1989 he was interim pastor at Beulah Baptist Church in Lynchburg. From April 1 thru September 30 of 1989 he was interim pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Salem, and was the interim at Virginia Heights Baptist Church from October 1, 1989 until August 1, 1990. In all, Carl served as an interim minister at least 17 times in his career.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday from Oakey's North Chapel with Carl's nephew, the Reverend Danny Collins officiating. Interment will follow in Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Oakey's North Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (3806 Monument Avenue, P.O. Box 6767; Richmond, VA 23230).