Joel Dean Collum, Sr.

January 28, 2013

Joel Dean Collum, Sr., 81, left his earthly suffering behind on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, surrounded by family.

He was born Jan. 5, 1932, to the late Joe W. and Ona McAfee Collum. He was a member of Red Bay Free Will Baptist Church. He was a former Sunday School teacher and Trustee. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict from 1951-1955.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 120 of Red Bay where he was past Commander and Adjutant. He was a past Commander of District 5. As long as his health permitted, Joel put up the flags on the streets of Red Bay on all flag flying days. He traveled the world while serving his country, but never wanted to live anywhere other than Red Bay. Joel loved his God, family, church, country and Alabama football in that order.

Services were 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at Deaton Funeral Home Chapel, Red Bay, with Bro. Steve Lindsay and Bro. Ross White officiating. Burial was in Burnout Cemetery.

Joel is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Ellen Collum, Red Bay; two sons, Joel Collum, Jr. and wife, Barbara, Nashville, Tenn., and Jim Collum and wife, Cyndi, Jackson, Tenn.; two daughters, Rhonda Condrey and husband, Jerry, of Florence, and Wanda Berry and husband, Joe, Madison; grandchildren, Amber Patterson and husband, Leon, Midway, Miss., Leslie, Matthew and Zachary Collum, Nashville, Tenn., Page Berry, Madison, and Sydney and Kyle Griffin, Jackson, Tenn.; great-grandchildren, Kix, Beau and Arabella Patterson; sister, Lamell Roberts, Baldwyn, Miss.; seven nephews and eight nieces.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Delmer Collum; four sisters, Reca Emerson, Ara Collum, Vernice Stacy and Tressie Cartwright; one niece, Glendell Stacy and one nephew, Wendell Emerson.

Grandsons and nephews served as pallbearers.

The family would like to thank Generations of Red Bay for the compassionate care given to their husband and dad during the last nine months.