Life Celebration services for this native and life-long citizen of Natchitoches who served her people on the Natchitoches Parish School Board, as a Woman of God in the Christian community and humanity-at-large will be held Saturday, August 19, 2017, 1:00 p. m. at the Agape Love Center Church, 1515 Texas Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457.  The remains will lie in state in closed casket mode at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Saturday from 8:00 a. m. to 11:30 a. m.  and then again at the Agape Love Center Church from 12:00 noon until service time in closed casket posture. Burial will follow in the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery of Bermuda, LA.  Winnfield Memorial Funeral home where "Your Legacy Lives On" is in charge of all arrangements.

An accurate recording of history will show that the name of "June" Joella Fowler Wilson Collins was consistently identified with serving her people. Her nature was brimming over with compassion for her family, her classmates and friends, her constituents of Natchitoches Parish School Board District 5 and humanity-at-large. She was actively concerned about the underserved, the overlooked, the marginally treated and the less fortunate in society as well as the support and promotion of Black businesses. Her concern went beyond feeling disturbed about their state of being and was transformed into positive and outspoken action to relieve their conditions; however, her utmost involvement was representing the children as a duly elected member of the Board. She will truly be missed by all!

This dynamic woman of God was born February 7, 1959 in Natchitoches, LA to the parentage of the late Mr. Louis Fowler, Jr. and the surviving Mrs. Nora Lee Shields Fowler as the fourth of six children. Her's was a close-knit and loving family unit which was very well regarded in their immediate community, the Pan-Am/South Town section of Natchitoches, LA.

God, in His infinite wisdom, beckoned her to an eternal plane of rest and peace Friday, August 11, 2017 at the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

Her Christian journey was rooted in her family's fireside training which led to her making a public confession of her faith in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, being baptized and then uniting with the historic St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in the Bermuda, La community where her great grandfather, the late Rev. Gentry Davis, was one of the longest serving Pastors of this congregation. Personal conviction and spiritual enhancement led her to become an integral part of the East Side Church of God in Christ congregation under pastorage of Apostle Richard Stampley, and then the Word of Hope under the spiritual guidance of Pastor Warren. She later united with We Care Ministries being led by Pastor Gus Johnson, Jr. and ultimately, Kingdom First Ministries pastored by Bishop Willie Warren. She answered a call to Minister God's Word while a member of the East Side Church of God in Christ. In the ensuing years, she was elevated to the Assistant Pastorage of the Kingdom First Ministries.

This unforgettable young lady was a very popular and widely known student in the Natchitoches Parish Public School setting. She was a proud graduate of the Natchitoches-Central High School Class of 1977, a group that she mothered constantly and considered in the kinship circle indeed! Joella's thirst for knowledge led to her studying for a number of years at Northwestern State University. She obtained a Cosmetology Credential from the Natchitoches Vocational Technical School as well which became a springboard to her becoming a self-employed entrepreneur wherein she operated a beauty salon and a fashion store.

Joella's family life followed the path of her marriage to the late Harris Ray Wilson, Sr., and this family unit was blessed with three children. She later entered the sacrament of Matrimony with Kevin Collins almost two years before her demise. The jewels of her eyes were her immediate and extended family and her love was so evident in her unfailing undergirding of their lives.

Dedication to her people was an all-consuming passion which existed before she became an elected official. Your problem was her problem and she was earnest in trying to resolve the situation. Her absence will cast a long shadow!

Her loving spirit will continue to be cherished by those who survive her including her husband, Kevin Collins of Natchitoches, LA; her loving children, Mrs. Katrina Willis (Larry) and Mr. Harris Ray Wilson, Jr. ("Coach Black") both of Natchitoches, LA, Mrs. Katridra Wilson (DeAndre) of Fort Worth, TX, her son, Mr. Jessie Burton (Melissa) of Houston, TX, her step daughter, Tressela Shepard of Shreveport, LA, her grandchildren, Courtland Alexander, Courtnye Franklin, Cedrianna Franklin, Cedric Franklin, Jr., Delrix Franklin (Jasmine), Camryn White, Camen Woodberry, Carmyn Woodberry, Wandaris Shepard; her mother, Mrs. Nora Lee Shields Fowler of Natchitoches, LA; two sisters, Mrs. Catherine Hamilton (Robert), Mrs. Brenda F. Milner (Anthony), three brothers, Mr. Louis Fowler, III, (Mary), Mr. Freddie J. Fowler (Juanita), Mr. Larry J. Fowler all of Natchitoches, LA; sisters-in-law, Mary Barnes (Robert) of Houston, TX, Joyce Napoleon (Clinton) of Colorado Springs, CO, Karen Murff (Bobby), Linda Collins of Shreveport, LA, brothers-in-law, Honor Collins, Jr., (Gwen) of Katy, TX, Dwight Collins, Charles Collins of Shreveport, LA, Otis Collins of Houston, TX, Kenneth Collins (Ieachera) of Bethany, LA and her Godmother, Mrs. Shirley Shields Washington Young of Natchitoches, LA and Godson, Demetric Washington along with a host of loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.