Collins Whitaker was born May 24, 1946 in Enfield, NC to the late Raymond and Lucille Dancy Whitaker. Collins attended Booker T. Washington Elementary School and Huntington High School where he excelled in Basketball, Baseball and Football. The #20 he wore was not to be reckoned with because of his speed and agility on the football field.

Collins worked several years at the N.N. Shipyard and eventually became employed by the International Longshoreman's Association, where he retired after over 30 years of service.  Collins loved sports and was a die hard fan of the L.A. Dodgers, the Philadelphia 76ers and his beloved Dallas Cowboys. He was extremely well known. To know him was to love him and he was always the life of the party. Always entertaining and offering to cook and serve one of his delicious meals.

Collins departed this life on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at Riverside Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Lucille Dancy Whitaker; his oldest sister, Mary Lou Whitaker-Lee; his brothers, Jessie & Melvin Whitaker; his granddaughter, Whitney A. Moore; his nephews, Harrison Whitaker and Jessie Whitaker, Jr.; and niece, Doris Whitaker.

He leaves to cherish his wife, Hazel Whitaker, of Newport News, VA; brother, Raymond Whitaker of Newport News, VA; sisters, Cynthia Whitaker-Johnson (James) of Newport News, VA and Shirley Ann Whitaker of Norfolk, VA; 4 children, Crystal C. Gwaltney of San Antonio, TX, Marlon D. Hooker and Tamekia D. Moore (Tracy) of Newport News, VA, and Lisa Banks-Walton of Richmond, VA; 3 grandchildren, Destiny Hooker of Alexandria, VA, and Pierre and Mia Talley of Richmond, VA; sisters-in-law, Bertha Whitaker of Newport News, VA and Jeanette Whitaker of Enfield, NC; 5 nephews, Edward L. Lee of Hampton, VA, Travis Jones of Richmond, VA, Master Chief (Ret) Johnnie Whitaker of Carrollton, VA and James Whitaker of Atlanta, GA and Jessie Williams of Enfield, NC;  5 nieces, Juanita Jones (Donnie) and Mary Whitaker of Enfield, NC, Evelyn Peters of Hampton, VA, Sherell Gronemeier (Dean) of Las Vegas, NV and Keisha Lee of Newport News, VA; his uncle, Sherman Whitaker (Shirley); an aunt, Helen Whitaker both of Hampton, VA; a special friend, Wanda Ashcraft; and a host of great nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 19, 2022 at O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home.  O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.