Elsie Marie Collins

October 22, 1931 - February 21, 2022

Elsie’s Life and Legacy As the gates of heaven opened and the great stairway began to form, on February 21, 2022, God called his servant, Elsie Marie Cottman Collins to her eternal home. Elsie was one of fourteen children born on October 22, 1931 to the late Willis Cottman, Sr. and Annie Cannon Cottman. Elsie was educated in the Somerset County public school system. Her employment included the Delaney Company in Fruitland, Maryland, Birdseye in Pocomoke City, Maryland and Campbell Soup Company in Salisbury, Maryland. Elsie devoted her time to her family and loved ones. She would bake them her delicious cakes and dinner rolls for which she was famous. She also made a “mean” pot of chicken and dumplings for everyone to enjoy! At an early age, Elsie accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her Christian training began at St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church on West Post Office Road in Princess Anne, Maryland. She later became a long-time member of St. Marks United Methodist Church in Princess Anne, Maryland where she became a choir member. She was known for her spirited rendition of the song “I Said I Wasn’t Going To Tell Nobody.” Elsie loved to sing and she sang in the choir as long as she was able to do so. She was always willing to do whatever she could when called upon. Elsie was united in holy matrimony to the late Calvin Oliver Collins, Sr. on September 27, 1952. Together, they reared nine children and one granddaughter, Gay Brown Hawkins (Orlando) of Chesapeake, Virginia. They were also instrumental in the rearing of one grandson, Hardy Tyrone Brown (Jennifer) of New Castle, Delaware. Precious memories of Elsie’s life will also be cherished by: two daughters, Belinda Dorsey of Fort Washington, Maryland and E. Vernetta Ramsey (Cornelius) of Bowie, Maryland; six sons, Calvin O. Collins, Jr. (Denise) of Fruitland, Maryland, Larry Collins of Salisbury, Maryland, Kenneth Collins (Susan) of Cambridge, Maryland, Michael Collins (Jacqui) of Bowie, Maryland, Perry Collins (Shari) of Bowie, Maryland and Darryl Collins (Ann) of Dunkirk, Maryland; one stepson, Tyrone Miles (Marjorie) of Baltimore, Maryland; twenty-eight (28) grandchildren; thirty-four (34) great grandchildren; four great, great grandchildren; two special daughters, Connie Calhoun and Gayle Wilson (JW); a special son, James Wilson (Gayle); four sisters, Josephine Harmon, Margaret Grant, Lucille Cook and Betty Cottman; one brother, Omar Cottman (Joyce); a sister-in-law, Bernice Cottman and brother-in-law, Richard Jackson and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Elsie was preceded in death by a son, David Collins, two sisters, Lennie Cottman and Vida Lee Jackson, six brothers, Willis “Spud” Cottman, Preston Cottman, Randolph “Smitt” Cottman, Alexander “Buck” Cottman, Robert Lee Cottman and Samuel “Sam” Cottman, Sr. SUBMITTED WITH LOVE, THE FAMILY Lovingly Submitted The Family