HEROES – A TRIBUTE TO
ARTIE COLLINS
David R. Kenney
Just received word that Artie Collins, gospel preacher and
treasured family friend, passed away this morning on September 3, 2020. His dear
wife, Marie, passed away nearly seven years prior on September 30, 2013. Thinking
about her death, I recall mom and dad making the journey across states to comfort
Artie during this time. It was a tribute that was felt by the three of them. One
just never knows how life is going to go. During those intervening seven years,
my father died of brain cancer in 2015 and mother of MS in 2020. I would talk
to Artie by phone occasionally over those years. I believe the last time I
spoke to him was to let him know of mom’s death. All four of them are now gone,
and I feel profound loss.
The friendship goes back to July 1969 during a funeral in Lynnville,
TN. Artie had graduated from the Nashville School of Preaching in 1968, and dad
would be starting his final year at that summer’s conclusion from the school too.
Artie had worked for the congregation at Lynnville and was called back to do the
funeral for a member there. Dad was the current preacher, and the occasion was
the beginning of a long-lasting friendship. They loved telling people they had
the same birthday, July 11th; but Artie’s was in 1927 and dad’s in
1944.
It was Artie who suggested to dad that they attend the
Freed-Hardeman College Lectureship, and they did so together for many years
until circumstances prohibited such. They would come back and regale us with
stories from the lectures or some humorous adventure they had along the way. As
a young boy, I soaked it all up! I would hear about men who I would grow up and
read about with admiration. Some of them I was able to meet in person, but
others only through the printed page and stories. When my father was
contemplating his Will several years prior to his illness, he asked me what
books from his library I would want to keep. I told him I was unsure, but I knew
I wanted to keep all the Freed-Hardeman College Lectureship books. Life
changes. Freed-Hardeman College would go onto to become a University. I was a
student when the announcement and change was made to University by President E.
Claude Gardner. My parents wanted me to go to a Christian College. I was less
than enthusiastic about college at the time. They wanted me to go so bad that
they said they would send me to any Christian College and “it does not have to
be Freed-Hardeman if you would rather go somewhere else.” There was no other
Christian college I would have ever contemplated. Not because of the other
schools, but there is no other place I would rather go than Freed-Hardeman
College. Why? Artie Collins and my dad. I wanted the same for our children, and
Annette and I have worked diligently to give them the same opportunity.
My father and Artie, together, have been heroes of mine
since I was two years old. There would be other men whom I would look up to,
but these two were the first in my life. Artie’s nickname for me was “groundhog”
because we spotted a groundhog, so we started looking for others along the way.
To a young boy’s imagination, every rock and tree stump prompted the
exclamation “Groundhog!"
I try to impress on parents the importance of using their
influence to guide their children in the selection of their heroes. My parents
surrounded us with gospel preachers, and many of these would become our heroes.
How much better would our children’s lives be if they were guided to admire
godly people? How much would our society improve if children were given godly
heroes to admire as they grew up? In my estimation, tremendously. Oh, they
could admire presidents, wealthy people, sports figures, and others. Some of
these may be suitable heroes, but we need to place a premium on godly heroes.
Heroes for us to watch their steps and seek to follow. Where are your children’s
heroes going to lead them? If it is not heaven, then you should give that some
thought!
Artie Collins sent me an autographed copy of his memoirs
called Ramblings of an Old Preacher. Among other things he wrote: “I
love you, David, mainly, because your dad was my best friend. Secondly, because
you are a fine Christian man and preacher.” Because of the first reason, I want
to be better in the second. They had made a pact years ago to do one another’s
funeral. They were young men then, but time had taken its toll on their health.
Dad and Artie spoke about dad’s funeral over the phone since they were several
states apart. Artie’s health was such that they both agreed other arrangements should
be made. Artie and Dad agreed, and the last recorded words were “I will see you
in heaven.” Where do you think my sights are set? Heroes!
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