Bill Collins

Bill was born to John & Wanda McGinty Collins (Koffman) on August 18, 1946. He left this world for his heavenly home on March 31, 2025. He was born and raised in Jackson, TN, attended high school at Northside and attended college at University of Memphis in Memphis, TN where he achieved a Bachelor of Science / Engineering. He also completed an Associate of Arts at the University of Texas. He excelled in sports all his life and played football for the Memphis Tigers as a tight end. He also boxed for his cousin Rayford Collins at Golden Gloves Boxing Club. After college,  he opened a car lot beside his dad on Airways Blvd. known for several years as “Ye Old Vet City”. He owned several body shops in Jackson. This led him to design and create an air supplied respirator for his company Airco, Industries. He achieved and owned three United States Patents. He was also a dedicated writer and wrote & published two movie scripts. He made several trips with Cannon pictures to Israel with well known names such as Chuck Norris and John Claude Van Damn. Bill loved the auto industry & eventually returned to it for his life’s work. He managed Wilson Auto Mall and then later achieved Salesman of the Year 3 times for the Serra Corporation. Bill was a Cancer Survivor of 18 years and a long time patient of Vanderbilt University Hospital. Bill later developed Alzeheimer’s disease. He lost his battle with the disease on March 31st.

Bill met and married the love of his life Melda (Meggs) Collins from Humboldt, TN on April 25, 1980. They were the proud parents to three girls, Lindey Leigh Collins Moore (husband Ben), Courtney Beth Collins Bevins (late husband Matt) and Kelly Nicole Collins. They have 5 grandchildren;  Cason Alexander Collins (12), Madelyn Grace Moore (7), Anna Leigh Bevins (7), and twins, John Matthew & Chloe Beth Bevins (5). He loved his step mother of many years Clara Collins who now resides in St. Louis, MO. He loved dearly and appreciated his TN River friends on Catfish Lane, Savannah, TN & could often be seen riding his jet ski on the river like the wind.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Henry Collins; His step-father (whom he loved) Vernon Koffman. His mother and father-in-law, A. G. & Geneva Meggs; grandparents, Ellis & Alma McGinty of Sunnyvale, CA; grandparents, Johnny Red & Emma Collins of Medon, TN; his son-in-law,  Matthew Aaron Bevins.

Family requests any cards or remembrances to be sent to: 466 Old Humboldt Rd., Jackson, TN 38305

Services will be private and a memorial held at the TN River at a later date.