Ollie Rochelle Collins-Perkins

April 11, 1959 - Oct. 29, 2012 SOUTH BEND - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. - 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV Ollie Rochelle Collins, 53, of South Bend, Indiana, departed this life on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Memorial Hospital of South Bend. She was born on April 11, 1959, in South Bend, Indiana, to the union of Johnny Sr. & Geraldine Collins. She graduated from LaSalle High School in 1978 and in 2010 continued her education in General Studies at Ivy Tech College. Ollie worked for the South Bend Community School Corporation as a Night Engineer, retiring from there in 2009. She was active in community outreach through the CASA Advocates program, the Women's Ministry at Grace A.M.E. Zion Church, and the Princesses Program, which is an outreach for minority females in the South Bend community. On August 26, 1981, she married Wadell Newman Jr. and to that union of 13 years 4 children were born. She later in life married Grady Perkins on January 1, 1997, and at that time, 4 additional children joined the Perkins family. She gave her life to Christ at an early age and united with Compassionate Heart Ministries, South Bend. There, she was a part of the women's ministry and worked diligently with the kitchen committee. She loved working within her community, oftentimes housing, clothing and feeding young children and their families in the area. She was often referred to as a modern day Madea, being called "Mom" by many. She was well-known for her cooking skills. Oftentimes, she had requests for her peach cobbler, lasagna, and dressing. Her favorite saying was, "I may not have all those fancy degrees, but I have a Ph.D. in Life." Ollie leaves to cherish her many memories 3 brothers: Col. George Ralph Collins (retired), Johnny (Denise) Collins Jr. and Gregory Lon (Toye) Collins; 1 sister, Lillian Annette Bracey; 8 children, Terrance (Nicole) Newman, Ch'Del Newman, Christopher Newman, Erich Newman, Daiveon Perkins, Mariah Perkins, De'Khari Perkins and Aah'Nyeya Perkins; 5 grandchildren, Terrance Newman II, Michael Newman, Ch'Rya Newman, Christopher Newman II and Taylor Newman; 2 aunts, Annell Waters and Della Luten; along with other relatives and numerous friends who will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her father, Johnny Collins Sr.; her mother, Geraldine Collins; a sister, Bobbie Jean Collins; maternal grandparents, Lonnie Luten and Lillian Luten; paternal grandparents, Alex Collins and Ollie Collins; uncles, Willie Collins, George Collins, Edward Collins, Walter Collins, Ladell Collins, Alexander Luten and Joseph B. Luten; aunts, Velma Collins, Lizzie Mae Baldwin, Eula Rowland and Mary Louise Stevens. The family would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to "Buddy," Lillie Chandler for all of the support and prayers that she has extended to the family. Visitation for Ollie Rochelle Collins-Perkins will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. today, November 4, 2012, in the Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home Inc., 2702 Lincoln Way West. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. in Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 101 N. Adams Street. Friends may call one hour prior to services for visitation. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery. Visit www.clarkoneal.com to sign her guestbook. The Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home Inc. has been entrusted with her arrangements.