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Pastor Charles D. Collins, 84, a local pastor, died June 18, 2013, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. The Rev. Brenda J. Mack officiated at his funeral June 27, at Chesapeake Christian Fellowship in Davidsonville. Annapolis District Superintendent the Rev. Evan Young participated. Interment is at Chews Memorial UMC cemetery.

Charles “Charlie” Collins was born Oct. 30, 1928, in West River to the late Rev. Samuel T. Collins and Edith L. Brown Collins, the fourth of eight children. All regularly attended Sunday school and church services at their home church, Chews UMC in Harwood. He accepted Christ as his personal savior at an early age.

Collins attended Mill Swamp Elementary School, and graduated from Wiley H. Bates High School in Annapolis. He was called to military duty in 1951 and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He received the Purple Heart. Upon returning to civilian life, he was employed by the U.S. Naval Academy, retiring in 1983 after 30 years of service.

Collins possessed a special love for Christian music and loved quartet singing. He became the lead singer and manager for the Golden Star Quintet, which was organized by his older brother, Joseph. He was a faithful member of Golden Star for more than 45 years, broadcasting and singing at churches in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. During this time, he received his calling to preach God’s word and pursued studies at Anne Arundel Community College and Wesley Seminary.

He was appointed to Wards Memorial UMC in Owings and served from 1980 to 1993 when he retired. Under his leadership, he united a fractured community and the congregation grew and flourished. He developed ministries, such as the Flower Circle and weekly counseling sessions for young adults with substance abuse problems. After retirement he served as interim pastor for Sollers UMC in Lothian.

He was preceded in death by five of his siblings, including the Rev. Joseph Collins who pastored Brooks UMC for 33 years.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Blandford Collins, whom he married in 2005, and four children: Charles Collins Jr., Theodora and her husband Samuel, Lornette Collins and David Collins; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Condolences may be sent to Lorraine Collins at 445 Collins Road, Edgewater, MD 21037.