Ben Everett Collins

Ben Everett Collins, 95, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at Bethea Skilled Nursing Facility. A resident of Florence, South Carolina, for over fifty years, Ben was born on September 9, 1928, in Claxton, Georgia, to the late Okie Rogers Collins and Brewton Carter Collins. Ben served in the U.S. Air Force for four years and was stationed in Kansas during the Korean Conflict. He began working with Rayonier in Jesup, Georgia. While in Jesup, he met the love of his life, Gwen Westberry, and they married in 1956. In the early years of their marriage, they lived in Florida and Alabama while Ben worked for various paper mills. Ben and Gwen made Florence their home in 1963 when he took a job with Stone Container, for whom he would work for the next 42 years. He was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, serving in many capacities including Deacon. He enjoyed fishing, deer hunting and gardening, sharing his prized tomatoes with everyone. In addition to his parents, Ben was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Gwen Westberry Collins; and his brothers and sisters: C.B. Collins, Edward Collins, Jakie Collins, Rufus Collins, Ira Collins, Irene Collins Sikes, Carrie Collins Waters, and Helen Sunnie Collins Holbrooke. He is survived by his two children, Gregory B. Collins of Florence, SC; and Cynthia Collins Sherer and her husband Chip; and his two grandchildren, Emma and Joseph Sherer, all of Flat Rock, NC. Ben also leaves behind a host of extended family members, including four sisters-in-law, Grace Westberry Smith of St. Marys, GA; Elizabeth Westberry Meehan (Terence) of San Jose, CA; Hilda Faye Westberry (Sam Rooks) of Jacksonville, FL; and Beverly Westberry Leaphart of Jesup, GA; and one brother-in-law, Wyman Westberry of St. Marys, GA; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A visitation will be held on Friday, November 17, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home, 2402 South Irby Street, Florence, SC. A funeral will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 915 Cherokee Road, Florence, SC 29501 at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 18, 2023, with graveside to follow at 1:00 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, 1000 Cherokee Road, Florence, SC. The service will also be live streamed on www.calvarycares.com. Family and friends may sign the guestbook online at www.stoudenmiredowling.com. Remembrances may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 915 Cherokee Road, Florence, SC 29501.