Thomas Franklin Collins Jr.

1938 - 2025

Thomas Franklin Collins, Jr. (86) passed away on Saturday May 3, 2025 at his home in Cambridge, MD surrounded by this loving wife and daughters. He was born October 2, 1938 and was the son of T. Franklin and Ann Nevius Collins. Tom attended local schools and graduated from St. James School in Hagerstown, MD in 1957. He enlisted in the Army Reserves and specialized in the field of communications. Tom graduated from Florida Southern College earning a degree in Elementary Education. He returned to Dorchester County and taught 6th grade at Academy Elementary School. He earned his M.S. in counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA and served as a vocational rehabilitation counselor with the State Department of Education in Dorchester County. After a number of years his career path lead him to earn both insurance and real estate licenses while working at Harrington Insurance Company.

Tom was an avid waterfowl and dove hunter along with trap and skeet shooting. He was a charter member of the Ducks Unlimited Chapter and the Grand National Waterfowl Association. His loved spending time on the Choptank River, crabbing and boating, which also included many trips on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. He served on the board and as Commodore of the Cambridge Yacht Club. He enjoyed riding motorcycles and cruising around in his red corvette.

Tom was a lifelong Episcopalian, at Christ Church, Cambridge he served on the Vestry and also Senior Warden. He attended St. John's Chapel, Cornersville for the past 25 years and served on the Bishop's Committee and as Senior Warden. Tom was a member and trustee of the Dorchester County Historical Society where he served on the board and as president. He held memberships in the South Dorchester Folk Museum, American Legion, Elks Lodge, Eastern Shore Corvette Club, Dorchester Center for the Arts and the Algonquin Manor Association.

He married the former Frances Ann North on July 27, 1968. Together they enjoyed traveling to all 50 states plus Europe and Australia along with numerous cruises in the U.S., Europe and the Caribbean. In addition to his wife Fran, he is survived by their two daughters, Andrea Collins Dayton (Eddie) and Lenee Nevius Collins, two grandchildren Jonathan Thomas Kelly and Abigail Elizabeth Kelly, two bonus grandchildren Jacob Dayton (Caitlyn) and Amber Dayton, a great grandson Paxton Dayton, a brother W. Randolph Collins and several nieces and nephews. Beside his parents, he was proceeded in death by a brother, Kent Nevius Collins Sr. and his wife Sharon and sister-in-law Jeri Collins.

Graveside services will be held on Friday May 9, 2025 at 11:00 at Old Trinity Church with Father Dan Dunlap officiating followed by a celebration of Tom's life at the Cambridge Yacht Club.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in his memory may do so to either the Dorchester County Historical Society 1003 Greenway Drive Cambridge, MD 21613 or the Cambridge Yacht Club Junior Sail Program 1 Mill Street Cambridge, MD 21613.

Arrangements are in the care of Thomas Funeral Home, P.A in Cambridge.