BRENDA JOYCE HAMILTON

Brenda Joyce Collins Hamilton was born on November 27, 1955, in Gary, Indiana to the late Leroy Collins Sr. and Lula Mae Collins. She graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1974. She confessed Christ at an early age and transitioned to be with the Lord after a long battle with her illness on March 02, 2024. She served in the United States Army, obtaining the rank as Specialist/E-4 from 1986 until 1995 as a Light-wheel Mechanic; school trained, but later became an Administrative Assistant in the orderly room. She received numerous awards, medals, and certificates throughout her military career. She graduated from St. Philip’s College, San Antonio, Texas in 2001 with an Associates of Applied Science degree in Business Management. She later graduated from Milan Institute of Cosmetology, San Antonio, TX, where she received several certificates of achievement and obtained her license in 2005.

She proudly boasted that the 57th Maintenance Company in Giebelstadt, Germany was her best unit during her time in the Army.

Brenda is preceded in death by her father, Leroy Collins Sr; her mother, Lula Mae Collins; her brothers, Leroy Collins Jr, Larry Collins Sr, Uyless “Chuck” Collins, and Almquist Collins; her sister, Louise McDuffie; her son, James Demon Collins.

Brenda leaves to cherish her memory: wife, Cynthia Octavia Bryant of 23 years; daughter, LaShawn Quinette Collins of Cibolo, TX; son, Antoine Lamont Collins(Allen) of Ottawa, CA; one brother, Michael Jerome Collins of Gary, IN; one sister, Gail Harris of Gary, IN; five grandchildren: Te’Ara Andresi Wilson of San Antonio, TX; De’Shaun Anthony Collins of Dallas, TX; DeVaughn Quinton Rider of San Antonio, TX; Tre’veon Damante’ Wilson of San Antonio, TX; Deonna “Miss Diva” Alyssa Collins of Cibolo, TX; three great-grandchildren: Ah’Miyah Richardson, Ah’Meir Richardson, and Justice “JJ” Paige of San Antonio, TX; two aunts: Anna Atkins-Crenshaw(Claude) of Salt Lake, UT and Gayenell Tinsey(Eric) of Jackson, MS; one uncle, Timothy Brown of Terry, MS; three special nieces, Veronica Lynn Collins-Ellis of Lake Station, IN, Renee Brown of Gary, IN, and Vera “Mikki” Collins-Starks of Merrillville, IN and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.