Josie Lee Thomas Collins

Josie Lee Thomas Collins

Birth Date: May 29, 1919, Jonesville, Catahoula, Louisiana

Spouse: Willie Collins

Children: Willie “WC” Collins (step-son), Floyd Collins, Gerald “Perry” Collins, Frederick “Fred” Collins, Jessie Collins and Rudolph Thomas Collins.

Last Residence: Oakland, CA

Death Date:

Josie Collins is the sixth child born to Sim and Fannie Thomas. Josie was born in Jonesville, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. Josie was a kind and soft-spokened woman. She never met a stranger and was sweet to everyone she met.

Josie married Willie Collins and five boys were born into this relationship. Her husband had an older son, Willie “WC” Collins, Jr. The family relocated to Oakland Louisiana with their first four sons – Floyd, Gerald “Perry”, Frederick and Jessie. Rudolph Thomas Collins was born in Oakland, CA. Upon moving, the family initially resided with her brother, Frank Thomas, and then shared a residence with her sister Millie Thomas and her family.

Josie was employed and retired from the US Postal Service. Josie and her husband purchased a beautiful home in North Oakland. Josie had the unfortunate experience of outliving four of her five children. Her eldest, Floyd, died shortly after her.