Service

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Family Visitation: 1:00 P.M.

Funeral Service: 2:00 P.M.

Held at

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church

762 Holly Grove Road

Lascassas, Tennessee

Interment

Bethel Cemetery

Lascassas, Tennessee

Etta Pecola Wade-Collier was born April 6, 1931, in Walter Hill, Tennessee to the late Jimmie Lee Wade and Azzie Norris Wade. She was the oldest of four children. 

She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age at Bethel Church. She was educated in the Kentucky School System up to the 8th grade until she was relocated back to Tennessee with her father and stepmother. She then finished her education in the Rutherford County School System where she was a proud Graduate of Holloway High School. She was married to the late James R. Collier and to this union, there was one daughter, Gloria Mae.

December 2005, Deaconess Etta Collier received the Ola G. Hudson Volunteer Leadership Award by the TSU Cooperative Extension Program. She was recognized for her outstanding volunteer efforts in Rutherford County. She served as the chair of the planning committee for Grandparents and Relatives of Caregivers of Dependent Children Conference co-sponsored by Bethel M.B. Church and the University of Tennessee. 

In 2006 Deaconess Collier was one of Middle Tennessee State University’s Unsung Hero Honorees based on her outstanding commitments to the community. Following in her father’s footsteps she became the 2nd known Superintendent of Sunday School after serving as the adult class Sunday School Teacher. She was one of the first African Americans to work at the Rutherford County Election Commission. As a result of her work, in 1977-1995 she received a special appointment by one of the Tennessee United States Representatives. 

Other amazing accomplishments by Etta: founded Bethel Junior Choir and was Pianist; Sanctuary Choir and Pianist; President of Bethel Nurses Guild (Health Awareness); President of Bethel Caring and Sharing Ministry; President of SmithFork District Missionary Women; active member of Missionary Baptist State Convention of TN; Social Club - Rutherfordettes; Bethel Singing Group - Bethelettes.

Etta was a long-life member of Bethel Baptist Church and loved her church until aging started to slow her down. She loved her church as a whole, especially her pastors at the time, whomever was the shepherd leading the flock. She loved to cook, be outdoors, especially gardening and raising her children and most of all, taking care of herself.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James R. Collier; two sisters, Azzie Lee and Sarah Margaret; brother, John Ervin Wade; and grandson, Eric Collier.

She leaves to cherish her forever loving memory, her daughter, Gloria Mae Collier-Leach; granddaughter, Portia (Tony) Lyons of GA; great-granddaughters, Precious Gaines, Jordan Lally and Erykah Collier; grandsons, Chike Collier and Angelo D. Leach; great-grandsons, Curtis Gaines, Alexandria (AJ) Dreyke Kipchoghe Toliver; great great-grandson, Cayse Montavius Gaines; devoted great nephew, Christopher Christmon; devoted niece, Hattie (Sam) Esmond; nephews, Patrick (Melissa) Wade and Kim (Kandi) Marthel; nieces Lahoma Smith and Romana William; devoted brother-in-law, John L. Collier; sister-in-law, Carolyn Wade; her godchildren, Rosemary Owens, Ann Swader, Willie Mae Elder, Vonnie Patterson and Reggie Patterson; she was blessed with numerous of great, great nieces, nephews and cousins; her Bethel Church family; and dear friends, Terri and Wayne Johnson, the Wright Family, Sis. Florine Ratliff and Maryann Wilkerson.