Obituaries 10/10/2024

Lorene White McCollins

NEW YORK – Lorene White McCollins transitioned from earth to glory on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, and is now worshipping around the throne of Jesus. Born on February 9, 1924, in Water Valley, she was the fourth child born to Leonard White, Sr. and Addie Manuel White. She and her seven siblings spent their early years in Water Valley and were educated in the local schools and graduated from Davidson High School.

Upon her graduation from high school, Lorene matriculated at Jackson State College in Jackson.  After a fire destroyed the family home, the Whites moved to Memphis, where Lorene transferred to LeMoyne College.  At LeMoyne, she was inducted into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) on December 15, 1946.

Lorene met Leroy McCollins, a World-War II veteran, who had served with pride in the United States Navy, while still a college student. They married in 1947, and together they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Margarett Elaine the following year.

Having given her life to Jesus Christ at an early age, Lorene and her family were members of the St. Jude Missionary Baptist Church.  She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and occasionally served as chairperson of a variety of programs. For years she was the director of Christian Education at St. Jude, while also participating in Citywide and State Baptist Associations. She took her roles seriously, and worked tirelessly to fulfill her Kingdom assignments.  She remained at St. Jude until she moved from Memphis.

Lorene was a devoted educator who taught in the Memphis City Schools for 32 years. For the first half of her career, she taught third grade at Hamilton Elementary School, and ultimately earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Memphis State University. Years later, she was transferred to Charjean Elementary School and taught there until she happily retired in 1984.

Her passion for travel enriched her forty-year retirement, as she journeyed with her family, church members, and sorors. From her youth, Lorene loved to dress.   She was a conscientious and meticulous fashionista, who was recognized as one of Memphis’s “10 Best Dressed Women.”   She held that title for several consecutive years.

In 2016, Lorene moved to New York to live with her daughter and family.  She soon became a real New Yorker and loved taking special trips into Manhattan.  Lorene was a true worshipper and was overjoyed to make the Greater Allen Cathedral, where her son-in-law and daughter pastored, her church home in New York. She cherished in-person worship, and in her later years, spent many hours watching services on You-Tube.  She could often be heard singing hymns and worship songs while sitting at the kitchen table, and after Sunday dinners, she frequently led the family in sing-alongs.

She was overjoyed when in 2021 she celebrated her 75th year of membership in AKA and the earned the title of “Diamond Soror.” She had the distinction of being the first Diamond Soror in the fifty-eight-year history of Theta Iota Omega Chapter, which she joined when she moved to New York.

In addition to her husband, Leroy, she was preceded in death by her parents and seven siblings, Onia, James, Clista, Fred, Martha, Johnny, and Leonard. Family members she leaves to honor her legacy are her daughter, Elaine McCollins Flake, and her son-in-law, Floyd Harold Flake; her grandchildren, Aliya, Nailah, Robert Rasheed and Harold Hasan; her great granddaughter, Nia Renee, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Ronald Allen Raggio 

WATER VALLEY – Ronald Allen Raggio, a beloved uncle, brother and friend, passed away peacefully in his home September 30, 2024 at the age of 67.

A memorial service was held Saturday, October 2, at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley.

Known affectionately as Ron, he was born January 3, 1957, in Memphis to the late Emma Jean Saylors and Antonio Francisco Raggio. Ron graduated from Bishop Byrne High School in 1974 and Memphis State University with a Bachelors of Business Administration in 1978. With a career in the floral business spanning over three decades, Ron dedicated many years to running his own shop, Griffith Florist in Vicksburg, and continued to share his expertise and creativity at Mostly Martha's Floral Designs in Ridgeland. Upon retiring, Ron spent his last year in accounts receivable at NetVoice in Oxford. Ron recently settled into Water Valley, where he finally felt at home.

Ron enjoyed fishing, tending to his garden, volunteering, and helping those in need. Above all, Ron’s greatest joy came from time spent with his loved ones. Those that Ron loved he loved wholeheartedly; he was a genuinely kind soul who did not pass judgment on others.

Ron is survived by his sister, Judy Blythe (Joe); a brother, Steven Raggio; two sisters, Connie Collins (Larry) and Sheila Pope (Paul); a brother-in-law, Tom Old (Edith); nephews Jeremy Blythe (Mary Elizabeth), Tim Blythe (Lauren), Mike Old (Missy), James Smith, Jr. (Kelly) and Tucker Raggio (Brianna); nieces Sarah Grosskopf (Tom), Amanda Frederick (Jay) and Becky Williams; and many great nephews and great-nieces.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Rebecca Old; a brother, Michael Raggio; and nephews Noah Raggio and Joseph Williams.