Gerice Symone Collins was born March 16, 1991, to the union of Shelia and the late Floyd Collins, Sr. in Knoxville, TN. Gerice was a sweet, loving, kind, and humble person. She loved the Lord.

She loved people and would do anything for anyone. Her heart was big and pure. She attended Sunnyview Elementary School, Vine Middle School, and Austin East Magnet High School. At Austin East, she was a member of the honor society and was runner-up for Ms. Sophomore. She also attended Pellissippi State Community College where she majored in Early Childhood Education. She loved word search puzzles, bowling, and reading. She was an encourager on Facebook to family and friends. She was a faithful member of St. Joseph House of Prayer. At St. Joseph, she taught Children’s Church, was a member of the Fresh Anointing Dance team, and a member of the Usher Board, starting as a Junior Usher. She also sang in the choir and was a member of the praise and worship team. Her favorite song was “Press in Your Presence,” by Shana Wilson which she joyfully led on Sunday mornings. She was a proud and faithful employee of McDonald’s for several years, the Goodwill Store, and Love and Care Daycare.

She fought the good fight of faith while continuously demonstrating the healing power of God, never complaining, always with a humble spirit, smiling like there were no worries in the world. We know that God was with her, and she was truly an angel of the Lord among us.

Gerice Collins is preceded in death by her father Floyd Collins, Sr, her grandfather Lloyd Collins Sr, her grandmother Bessie Smith Bennett, her grandfather James Bennett, her uncles: Donald Allen Smith, Alvin Lee Smith, Ronald Bennett, Donald Bennett, William Bennett, and James Louis Bennett.

She leaves to cherish in memory her devoted mother Shelia Collins, her twin sister Viatrice LaQ’uire Collins, her sister Shamika Collins, her brothers: Floyd Collins, Jr., Lloyd Collins, and George Collins; her aunts: Jennifer Smith, Gloria Smith, Shelia Smith, Roylene Bennett, Rhodema (William) Stevens, Betty Washington, Carrie Lomax, Hazel Elmore, and Helen Callahan; her uncles: George (Jean) Collins, Lloyd Collins, Jr., Bobby Joe Smith, Louis Smith, Sanford (Linda) Smith, Ronald Smith, Maurice (Wilma) Smith, and Christopher Blair; her grandmother Daisy McCier; her “Ace boon coon” niece JoAngel; her special companion Germaine Bingham; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, family, friends, and her church family, St. Joseph House of Prayer.