Eva (McQueen) McRae Collins Wilkes

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors announces the death of Mrs. Eva McQueen McRae Collins Wilkes, age 90, of Byron, GA, formally of Swainsboro, GA., on Saturday, February 10, 2018 surrounded by her family, at Heart of Georgia Hospice in Perry, GA.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 1:00 PM in the Peebles-Curry Memorial Chapel with Rev. Joe Bedgood officiating.

Interment will follow in the Eastbrook Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:00 noon till time of service.

Pallbearers are Chan Alligood, Nicholas Durden, Dutch Dutcher, Benton Dutcher, Rick Strange and Terry Strange.

Mrs. Wilkes was born May 8, 1927 to the late John Will and Elizabeth Mae Windham McQueen, She began her professional career in insurance working for a local bank and went on to start her own insurance agency (McRae Insurance Co.). After marrying Marvin O. Collins they owned and managed the Tick Tock Motel and Restaurant as well as a large cattle and tobacco farm. Mrs. Wilkes was very active in the Savannah Presbytery and was co-founder and original director of the Swainsboro Presbyterian Apartments, and spent many years participating in mission trips to Mexico on behalf of the Presbyterian  Church. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husbands, John Daniel McRae Sr, Marvin O. Collins, and Ed Wilkes;  two sons, William Eugene "Tiny" McRae and John Daniel "Johnny" McRae; brother, Sam McQueen; brother and sister-in-law J. W. and Betty  McQueen; sister and brother-in-law Elma and Joe McLean

Survivors include:

One Daughter: Ginny McRae of Ft. Mill, SC

One Son: Bruce McRae (Sheila) of Byron, GA

Two Daughters-In-Law: Gail McRae and Nita Lewis both  of Swainsboro, GA

Two Sisters: Carole Ray (Lacy) of Hamlet, NC and Jean Perkins of Laurinburg, NC.

Nine Grandchildren: Scott McRae (Tina), Chris McRae (Tania), Penelope Herman (John), Mac McRae, Evamarie McRae, Amy Damascus (John), Angela Bournazos (Steve),  Jann Alligood (Chan) and Donna Dutcher (Dutch).

Eighteen Great Grandchildren: Maggie, Cate, Eva Jane, and Daniel McRae, Ellie Grace and Olivia McRae, Gabrielle, Eva, and Daniel Damascus, Olivia and  Jack Herman, Anna, Chanley, and Elan Alligood, Nicholas Durden, Alexa and Aris Bournazos and Benton Dutcher.

Special Caretaker: Susan Turner of Macon, GA

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the  Heart of Georgia Hospice, 1120 Morningside Dr. Perry, GA  31069

Condolences may be submitted online at www.durden-hudsonfuneraldirectors.com

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements for the funeral of  Mrs. Eva McQueen  McRae Collins Wilkes of Byron, GA

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