The Collier Legacy

If it were not for George and Vicie Collier, this celebration would not have been
possible. They were the father and mother of the six Collier boys.

Chandler was the first of the boys. He was married twice, to Roberta Drumgold and then to Stoney Walker, in which came four children. Channel used to grow sugar cane, and had his own cooker to make molasses. He also made the molasses for the whole neighborhood. He lived on a farm and had an orchard with all kinds of fruit trees. He made sure all his nieces and nephews gathered fruit to take home.

Next came Jesse, his wife was named Melissa Edmonds, which came twelve children. He was a farmer and also served on the Deacon Board at Johnson Grove Church for many years.

Eddie was next, he married Carrie Lou, which they had seven children together.

Later, he married Maggie, Carrie Lou's sister. He first was a farmer until he moved to Chester, PA. then worked at Sun Oil Company in Chester, PA for many years.

Then came Lem (Crawley). His first wife was named Molly, which two children came. Later he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio and met his second wife, which nine children were born.

Next came Willie Ben, better known as "Tator Ben". He earned this name by raising the biggest sweet potatoes around. He first married Annie Walker, which no children were born. Later he married Annie's sister, Nettie Walker, which nine children were born. He raised vegetables, but his main job was a sawyer at a sawmill. Later in life. he owned his own sawmill.

The youngest of the Collier boys was Sonnie, who married Mary Blackwell. The had seven children. Sonnie also worked at a sawmill. Later in life, Sonnie and his wife Mary owned their own store/restaurant in Lawrenceville, VA.

Seldom in all these years of the reunion have we mentioned the six Collier wives.

For if it weren't for these lovely women, none of this would not have been possible.

By Eleanor Watson and Alease Collier