Ruth Collins remembered for her service, hospitality
Public Relations Staff |
“Ruth Collins was a sweet and gracious woman,” said Steve Flatt, president of Lipscomb University from 1997-2005. “Her quiet influence touched thousands of people. She was a valuable partner to Brother Collins and helped make Lipscomb a warm and inviting place.”
Perhaps she was best known as a gracious hostess for many Lipscomb events. She was a gifted cook who shared her creations with students and leaders of the community alike. For most of Collins’ presidency, when there was a dinner, luncheon, brunch or tea on campus that involved her husband, Mrs. Collins was usually the one who prepared the food. She decided how the plates would appear, what the menu would be and what tablecloths would be used.
She said of her involvement in a Lipscomb News interview in May 1986, “I’ve always enjoyed cooking and I don’t mind entertaining. When Willard took over the presidency, we felt there was a very great need for a close, family relationship to the people we could bring to the campus as well as the people on campus. Willard and I felt that the president needs to be with the people, not in any way, bringing love, companionship and everything to make people feel close and free with us. We decided that one way we could do it, since I enjoy cooking, was to have a good many of the things on the campus here in these (President’s) quarters.”
Those in Collins’ administration remember Mrs. Collins’ service.
“The thing I remember most about Ruth Collins as First Lady is her ability to cook. She was involved in every important dinner or luncheon at Lipscomb during that time. When we were working with representatives of the City of Nashville in zoning of the Burton Property (in Green Hills), she found out that an influential member of that committee particularly liked a certain dish. Ruth found out about that and fixed that dish for him whenever he would be on campus for a meeting to discuss the issue. That helped us win him over and as a result we were able to get the outcome that we wanted,” said Carl McKelvey, longtime Lipscomb University vice president.
Harold Hazelip, who succeeded Collins as Lipscomb president in 1986, said Mrs. Collins’ hospitality was a hallmark of the Collins administration.
“The Collins’ knew generations of friends of Lipscomb. They knew grandparents, grandchildren, children, spouses … These relationships helped them connect with others and were very important to them. Ruth’s personal touch is so important. She planned and helped prepare meals for friends, board members, students and many more,” said Hazelip.
Flatt said that many important decisions were made around Mrs. Collins’ meals.
“It’s not an overstatement to say the her dining table was a rallying point for Lipscomb University at a pivotal time in the school’s history. Around that table, the Collins’ built relationships that blessed the university at that time and have continued to this day,” said Flatt. “Ruth’s sacrificial service is a classic example that motivated others to use their gifts to support Christian education.”
Mrs. Collins’ influence was felt by other presidents’ wives who succeeded her. Helen Hazelip said Mrs. Collins was very helpful during her first few months as First Lady of Lipscomb.
“One of the most helpful things she did was to stand with me at receptions to help me with people’s names. It was important to Harold and I to get to know the names of people in the Lipscomb family and that was invaluable. She could not have been more supportive of us,” said Helen Hazelip.
Patsi Flatt, wife of former president Steve Flatt, said Mrs. Collins was a good role model.
“She made it (serving as a president’s wife) look easy. It’s a position that has a great deal of responsibility and activity that goes with it, and she carried out that role well,” said Patsi Flatt.
In the mid-1980s the Associated Ladies for Lipscomb honored Mrs. Collins with the establishment of the Ruth Morris Collins Scholarship Fund, which has helped provide a Christian education to many students.
“Ruth was a dear, dear friend. During the time Willard was president, we cooked so many meals together in the President’s Quarters. We go so far back and have so much love for them. She was very dear to me. She was a loving wonderful friend. We will miss her dearly, but she’s in the place where she’s wanted to be these past 92 years,” said Mary Nelle Hutcheson Chumley, longtime friend and colleague.
Mrs. Collins was preceded in death by daughter Corinne Collins Slayton, grandson Bryan Collins Demonbreun and brother G. Warren (Bud) Morris. She is survived by husband, Willard Collins; daughter, Carole (Bobby) Demonbreun; son-in-law Ed Slayton; grandsons, Mark Slayton and Michael Slayton and granddaughter, Tasha Demonbreun Jenkins; and three great grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted Monday, July 23.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ruth Morris Collins Scholarship Fund at Lipscomb University, One University Park Drive, Nashville TN 37204-3951. You can also give online by going to http://give.lipscomb.edu, and click secure online form.