Betty C. Collins

Betty Camille Collins

She was born on July 27, 1951, in Indianapolis, Indiana to Mattie Louise and William Edgar Collins. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Doris Ann Arnold and Peggy Louise Arnold, and her God-sisters, Sonya Milligan and Silvia Brown.

Living on the west side of Indianapolis Betty attended Indianapolis Public Schools #24. Then moving to the northside at 535 Udell Street, Betty attended Public Schools #36, #87 and Shortridge High School. Upon graduating from high school, with her thirst for knowledge, Betty enrolled in Ivy Tech to pursue a degree in Library Sciences. Betty attended Sunday School and Church regularly along with her mother, six sisters, and one brother. She was baptized and accepted Christ as a teen while a member at 28th Street Church of God in Christ. Betty truly loved the Lord and was ever HIS servant as a member of Word of Life Church of God in Christ.

Betty met and married her high school sweetheart, Gary DeJuan Mann. From that union, she was blessed with one beautiful daughter. She began her career as the school Media Assistant at IPS #87, then transitioned to the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library. After which, Betty decided to retire early. After her short retirement and at the urging of a friend, Betty came out of retirement to take a role of a library page at Flanner House’s local library. All the children in the neighborhood loved her.

Betty was an endearing soul and always ready to help the visitors to the library with their requests for books and periodicals. She was eager to assist the students in finding materials for their research projects and she was the Troop Leader for her daughter Tracie and her niece Carmen’s Girl Scout Troop at St. Monica Catholic School. Betty was an avid reader and collected autographs of aspiring and established authors. She enjoyed socializing with her sisters, cousins and friends. She never missed an opportunity to attend events for her grand-nieces and nephews. Betty had a stylish flair and she enjoyed shopping on the weekends, as well as getting her nails done with her niece Terri, As a lover of the arts and the theatre, Betty regularly attending plays at Clowes’ Hall, The Murat Theatre and The Indianapolis Reparatory Theatre as well as taking in a parade or sporting event.

Betty made her transition on September 23, 2022. She leaves to cherish her memory, her one and only daughter, Tracie Denise Mann; Her siblings, Joyce Marie Paul, Evangelist Wanda Jean Pittmon (Kirby), Judy Lynn Cox, Roland Hayes Johnson, Jr. and Carolyn Golden Gholston (Keith) of St. Peters, MO; God-Sister, Sharon Milligan Rainey; Aunts – Audrey Ecton-Crawford, Ruth Ella Johnson of Indianapolis, IN and Altha Johnson of Lawrenceburg, KY; Sixteen Nieces and Nephews and a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews and cousins. Life-long friends Sharon Hayes Hooten and Debra Hughley Halliburton and special caregiver, Cheryl A. Sharp