Deacon Burrel Charles McCollum Sr., affectionately known as Beedy or B.C., was born in Candler County, Georgia on September 12, 1942 to Mr. Willie and Mrs. Ruth Parker McCollum. He lived a very prosperous life and died very peacefully at home on Saturday, June 19, 2021. He and his wife, Hazel, are back together again!
At an early age he was reared by special aunts and an uncle; Aretha Dekle, Leola Barlow, and Jr. Barlow.
B.C. was drafted into the United States Army in 1962. He received an honorable discharged in 1964. He spent time in Newark, New Jersey and Chicago, Illinois before returning home to Candler County where he met and married the lovely Hazel Ruth Hutley. To this union, five children were born.
B.C. was a hard worker and was employed with Gene Odom Farms for over 40 years. Gene, Sandra and their children became an extension of his family.
In the late 1970’s, he accepted the Lord as his Savior. Shortly thereafter, Beedy became ordained as a Deacon at Tremont Temple Missionary Baptist Church, Metter, Georgia. He served there for many years before joining his sister at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Register, Georgia. At both churches you could find him passionately teaching Sunday School and spreading the word of God.
B.C. never met a stranger and had a unique way of making everyone feel special. He always made you smile, laugh, and would sometimes put a little money in your hand. One of his greatest passions was bowling. He loved bowling in tournaments, in city leagues, as well as with family and friends which energized him and kept him young.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Ruth McCollum; one son, Mark Lurensa McCollum; his parents; his step-mother, Myrtle McCollum; a grandson, Lurensa Makell McCollum; a granddaughter, Mia Alexandria Williams; four brothers, Willie Lee “Bo” McCollum , Ernest “ Bill” McCollum, Willie “Big Bro” Byrd, and David C McCollum; three sisters, Alberta McCollum Jones, Stella Williams, and Dorothy McCollum
He leaves to cherish his memory his children, Liz Marie (James) Williams of Millen, Georgia, Cynthia (Carlton) Phelps of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Tamiko McCollum of Metter, Georgia, Burrel (Lanisa) McCollum of Knoxville, Tennessee and Brian Cook of Glenville Georgia; two children reared as his own, LaShawn Tucker of Atlanta Georgia, and Joseph (Cynthia) Williams of Warrenton, Virginia; one sister, Willie Peal Tanner of Register, Georgia; one brother, Jimmy (Peggy) McCollum of Statesboro, Georgia; one aunt, Thelma Byrd of Metter Georgia; ten grandchildren, Alex (Chelesea) McCollum, Victoria Frink, Brian Cook, Kayla Cook, Chasidee Phelps, Camille Phelps, Camron Phelps, DeShawn McCollum, D’ante McCollum, and Burrel III McCollum: One great-grandchild, Cai Brown; 3 sisters-in-law, Edith “Nadine” Boyd, Lena Braziel, and Minnie (James) Palmer; one brother-in-law, Silas Hutley Jr; several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and numerous loving cousins and friends.
The Staff of Whitaker Funeral Home is honored to support and serve the McCollum family with Dignity, Respect and Integrity.
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