Brenda Sue Collins

Dr. Brenda Sue Collins passed away at the age of 69 on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at Shady Grove Adventist Medical Center in Rockville, Maryland.

She was born on September 2, 1955, in Evansville, Indiana, to the late Rev. Stewart Collins and Willa Mary Collins.  She was a graduate of Harrison High School and graduated from the University of Evansville with a Bachelor of Arts in biology.

Dr. Collins, a research microbiologist and science/technical writer, obtained her Ph.D.  degree in Microbiology from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. After earning her doctorate, Dr. Collins did research on HIV, Brucella and other viruses and bacteria at various laboratories, including the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and other government affiliates. She also authored or co-authored more than a dozen journal articles.

Dr. Collins then worked for several years as a technical proposal writer for the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, contributing to numerous successful grant proposals.  After doing technical and grant writing for several government contractors, she branched out into freelance science writing later in her career. Dr. Collins was a judge of the Regeneron (formerly Intel) International Science and Engineering Fair for more than a decade.

A longtime Maryland resident, Dr. Collins attended the God Glorified Church of God in Christ in Silver Spring, Maryland.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Dr. Keith E. Collins.

She is survived by two sisters, Addie Collins Johnson of Sharon, Massachusetts, and Gail Collins Williams (Joseph) of Wappingers Falls, New York; and three brothers, Stewart E. Collins and Stephen M. Collins of Evansville, and Wayne T. Collins of Bethesda, Maryland.  Her survivors also include two nephews, Parker Collins Johnson (Karen) of Vancouver, Canada, and Eric Collins (Jamie)  of Indianapolis, Indiana; three nieces, Jennifer Wolfe (Dennis)  of Evansville, Lauren A. Williams of Cairo, Egypt, and Kristen Horigan (Brendon) of Boonton, New Jersey; her great-nephews Christopher Collins and Nicholas Marks of Indianapolis, Indiana; her great-nieces Quincy Anne Johnson of Vancouver, Canada, and Rania  Saeed of Cairo, Egypt; as well as numerous relatives and lifelong friends.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at Alexander Funeral Home, East Chapel, 2115 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana. The funeral service will be held in Evansville, Indiana, on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ, 1717 Judson Street, Evansville, Indiana.

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