Cheryl M. Collier

Early on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 18, 2021, Cheryl M. Collier joined her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven. She was 73 years old.

Cheryl was the daughter of the late Walter Jackson Musselwhite and Mary Ellen Harris Thompson. She was born on February 1, 1948, in Pelham, Georgia and grew up in Camilla, Georgia, where she was a cheerleader for Mitchell County High School. She graduated in 1966 and went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at Georgia Southern University. Cheryl later earned her Master’s Degree from Georgia Southwestern State University, also in Education. She taught for several years at both Westside Elementary and Centerville Elementary. After a total of 26 years, Cheryl medically retired in 2000.

Cheryl had a love for sports; she especially loved water skiing, golfing, and snow skiing. Later in life, travel became her passion. A lifelong lover of history in general, and military history in particular, some of her favorite places to visit were national parks and war sites of significance. Cheryl felt a deep respect for history and pursued learning all she could about it over the years. She admired America’s military and was grateful for the soldiers that sacrificed everything for her country’s freedom. When Cheryl vacationed, she often went to the beach where she enjoyed boating or biking, in fact, cycling was another of her passions. Many of her favorite memories were made in Panama City where they summered as a family for many years. Talented at arts and crafts, she enjoyed collecting seashells from those beaches and would create art out of them. In addition, she was a skilled painter; she would make t-shirts of her prints to sell and take to art shows. Cheryl also enjoyed card games, especially Bridge. She was a member of Bonaire United Methodist Church.

Finally, something that will undoubtedly be recalled by those who knew Cheryl is that she made friends easily, often, and everywhere she went. Close to her heart were many people from near and far, but especially the Girls of ‘66, the Mermaids, and the CLAP. Time spent with the family she adored and friends made all along her journey were cherished and she leaves countless people with wonderful memories.

In addition to her parents, Cheryl was preceded in death by her stepfather, James “Tommy” S. Thompson.

Cheryl is survived by her husband of 53 years, Larry Collier of Warner Robins; son, Adrian Collier (Randi); grandson, Ren Collier, both of Perry; siblings, Livia Taylor (James Watson) of Macon; and Anita Jackson (Jackie) of Tifton; one niece, several nephews, and numerous cousins; as well as a host of extended family members and friends.

A memorial gathering with Mrs. Collier’s family will be Saturday, August 28, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. The memorial service celebrating her life will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. Mrs. Collier’s inurnment will be private.

For friends and family unable to attend, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations be given in memory of Cheryl M. Collier to Bonaire United Methodist, 221 Church Street, Bonaire, Georgia 31005.

Learn more about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at www.mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.