Jean Collins Longgrear

BYRD FUNERAL HOME ON WEST MAIN

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Posted by: ByrdFuneralHome
[email protected]
334.793.3003
Date: Apr 18 2014 6:34 PM

BYRD FUNERAL HOME

3409 W. MAIN STREET

DOTHAN, ALABAMA 36305

334-793-3003

[email protected]

 

Jean Collins Longgrear

Jean Collins Longgrear, age 85, passed away on April 17, 2014, in Tuscaloosa having just moved from Dothan to be closer to family. She was born in Wicksburg, AL, on August 28, 1928.

Funeral services will be held at Byrd Funeral Home Chapel on West Main Street at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2014 with Rev. Bob Gross officiating. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory with Byrd Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to service time on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the media library at First Baptist Church of Dothan

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Exie Thomley Collins and Mack C. Collins; her husband, James Lawson Longgrear; and her sisters, Laura Collins Shiver and Betty Sue Collins.

She is survived by her sons, James Dara Longgrear (Leah) of Tuscaloosa, AL, and Dale Collins Longgrear of Vestavia, AL. Her grandchildren are Lee Brantley Longgrear of Tuscaloosa and Amy Elizabeth Longgrear of Vestavia, AL. Jean is also survived by her sister, Peggy Collins Hedrick of Dothan as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Jean graduated from Wicksburg High School in 1948 and continued her education in Birmingham where she earned her certificate in Secretarial Administration. She was one of the first staff members hired for the new George C. Wallace Technical State Junior College (Wallace Community College) having been previously employed at the University of Alabama in Dothan. While working, Jean furthered her education in English Literature at Troy State University.

She combined her love of learning and travel by visiting such places as France, Italy, England and a large part of the United States mostly with her Sunday School Class (and the “Golden Girls”) at the First Baptist Church of Dothan. She often said she “grew up in a cotton field and am now looking at Cathedral ceilings in Europe.”

Jean was also a business woman. With her independent nature, she owned Jean’s Health Food store which was among the first of such stores in the state.

She was a gracious woman with great faith and a wonderful sense of humor. She loved to “laugh and pray” on her many travels.

The family wishes to thank all of her caregivers at Extendicare in Dothan and Forest Manor in Tuscaloosa.

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