In Memory
Felice Antoinette Collins
Jun. 18, 1953 - Feb. 11, 2012
On June 18, 1953, God gave us a beautiful and loving angel, Felice Antoinette Dudley-Collins. Early Saturday morning on February 11, 2012, God sent his angels to escort her to His heavenly home, to join her family members.
Felice was the third child born to Alfred and Dorothy Mae (Curtis) Dudley in South Bend, Indiana. Felice was the only daughter who her parents had the pleasure of rearing to adulthood, and she was truly a blessing to them. Felice expressed a belief in God at a very early age while attending Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church with her family.
Felice graduated from John Adams High School, and received a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. She obtained a Master's of Science Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame in August 1990. Mrs. Dudley-Collins served as a program coordinator at the YMCA Urban Youth Services of South Bend, before her enduring career of over 30 years at the Family Social Service Administration (FSSA), where she served as State Eligibility Supervisor. Felice had a passion for helping people in need and was committed and dedicated to her clients, whom she loved. Felice served on the board of Community Services through Real Services, Incorporated.
On May 26, 1990, Felice united in Holy Matrimony to Eric Collins of Centralia, Illinois, whom she loved dearly. Felice was fond of saying that ever since she was a little girl visiting Centralia, Eric used to tell her "I'm going to marry you when you grow up." Eric would say, "I got me a keeper," and she would always say "I may not have been able to grow up in Centralia, but I got a good part of Centralia with me, my husband, Eric." When they were not working, they spent much of their time traveling, attending plays, concerts, and family events. Felice was a very giving individual and each year for the past 4 years she and her husband solicited items for prizes and gifts to the non-profit organization, The Bobby Joe Mason Annual Golf Tournament in Centralia, Illinois, which raises money for youth community services.
Felice affectionately loved her Aunt Lucille in Centralia, who is her mother's last living sister. When she was in Centralia, she would visit her and spend 3 or 4 hours with her, if not the entire day. They would talk, laugh, eat and drink Pepsi, which her aunt loved. Felice would say it was like old times when she came to visit. She was so loving and thoughtful to her aunt and always looked forward to her visits. While at TSU, Felice pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Psi Chapter in the fall of 1972. As a member of Alpha Psi, she served as president and vice president.
Upon her return to South Bend, Felice transferred her membership to the Eta Mu Omega chapter, serving as president, vice president, and Sergeant of Arms, along with diligently working on numerous committees. Felice also served on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. National Cleveland Job Corps Board. She loved her sorority and will be truly missed. Felice enjoyed golfing and spent time over the years playing as a faithful member of the Putt Putters, Ladies Golf League.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Dorothy Mae Dudley; her brothers, Stephen Eric and Alfred Dudley II; maternal grandparents, Eldo and Susie Mae Curtis; fraternal grandparents, Joseph and Julia Dudley; her aunt, Mary Alice Curtis; her uncle, Dr. Charles Dudley; and brother-in-law, Bobby Joe Mason. She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted husband of 21 years, Eric Collins; stepchildren, Marcella Fane of Dallas, TX, Tiant Gardner of Dayton, OH, Nicole (Kenneth) Cotton of Hobart, IN, Keith and Brian Harris of Mt. Vernon, IL, Marketa Lewis of Houston, Pla'er Lewis of Centralia, IL, Tywone Webster of Centralia, IL, Shirley and Anthony Barnes of Centralia, IL, Shawanna O'Neal of Centralia, IL, Antoine Flagg of Houston, TX, Tony Gillespie of St. Louis, MO; great-aunts, Helen Pilate of Chicago, IL, and Joyce Garrett of Centralia, IL; aunts, Lucille Garrett of Centralia, IL, Lucille Sneed and Etta Dudley of Nashville; nieces, Kezia Collins and Jordan Slaughter of Long Beach, CA; special cousins, Louis (Patricia) Garrett and Marion "Bunny" Garrett of Centralia, IL, Eldo Dickie (Penny) Garrett of Milwaukee, WI, Raymond L. (Cathlene) Garrett of Los Angeles, CA, Kim Henley, Carol Dudley-Washington, Toni (Larry) Johnson, all of South Bend, IN; cousins, Burt (Nancy) Dudley of Kansas City, MO, Bonita Dudley-Scott of Nashville, TN, and Charles E. Dudley II of Baltimore, MD; brothers-in-law, Donald Mason of Springfield, IL, and A. (Speed) Walton of Los Angeles, CA; sister-in-law, Alice Faye (Roy) Walton of Springfield, IL; along with a host of cousins, nephews, grandchildren, other relatives and dear friends.
She will be tremendously missed by all. Memorials, Church Resolutions, flowers may be sent to Alford's Mortuary, Inc., 1222 Napier Street, South Bend, Indiana 46601; Telephone: 574-282-2477; Fax: 574-282-2492. If you wish to send a monetary contribution for the scholarship fund on behalf of Felice Antoinette Dudley-Collins to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Eta Mu Omega Chapter in South Bend, Indiana, send it to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Eta Mu Omega Chapter, P.O. Box 11647, South Bend, IN 46634.
Funeral services for Mrs. Felice Antoinette Dudley Collins will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 19, 2012, at Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church, with visitation occurring from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the church. Burial will take place at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park on Monday, February 20, 2012. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alford's Mortuary, where messages of condolence may e-mailed to Alfordsmortuary@att.net, c/o the Dudley-Collins family.
Published in South Bend Tribune on February 16, 2012.
04/27/2021 DEC
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