James Ervin “J.C.” Collins

James Ervin “J.C.” Collins was born in Thorsby, Alabama in 1939. He graduated from Chilton County High School in Clanton, Alabama in 1958 and entered the US Air Force in 1959. After completing basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, he reported to the Photo Interpretation School located at Sheppard AFB, Texas.
After the successful completion of the 20-week course, his first assignment was the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana from 1960 to 1964. His primary assignment while at Barksdale was B52 navigation training routes and bomb runs. From Barksdale, he was assigned to the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing located at Kadena AB, Okinawa from 1964-1968. While in Okinawa, he was responsible for target folder preparation and briefing an operational air wing of 60 aircrews. His next assignment was at the 75th Reconnaissance Technical Group located at Bergstrom AFB, Texas. The tour was from 1968 to 1969 where he was responsible for the establishment of a new photo interpretation unit. In July 1969, he was assigned to a 12-month tour as the Aircrew Debriefing Team Chief in Vietnam with the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing located in Bien Hoa.
After returning from Vietnam, he was assigned to the 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron located at Nellis AFB, Nevada. While there from 1970 to 1972, he established and served in a newly formed Tactical Fighter Squadron Intelligence Division. Departing Nellis, J.C. reported to the Armed Forces Training Center at Lowry AFB, Colorado where he taught imagery analysts photo interpretation from 1972-1976. After Lowry, it was back overseas and a tour with the 548th Reconnaissance Technical Group at Hickam AFB, in sunny Hawaii. It was here that J.C. entered and mastered the entire cycle of intelligence production. After reluctantly leaving Hawaii in 1979, he reported to the Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley AFB, Virginia and remained there until his retirement as a Senior Master Sergeant in July 1985.
J.C. entered the Civil Service as a GS-11 Intelligence Research Specialist for the 480th Reconnaissance Technical Group in 1986 where he served successfully in various intelligence production roles, but always returned to his true specialty: Air Force Imagery/Target Materials production. He retired from the Civil Service in 2002.
In 1980, J.C. and Priscilla decided to explore the world of square dancing. In 1982 they added round dancing to their repertoire. They were active in many square and round dance groups on the Peninsula and Gloucester County of Virginia, including the Langley Lanciers, Tidal Waves, Merry Mixers, Square Edges, Triangle Squares and the Swinging Squares. Their many round dance clubs included the Twirlers, Peninsula Rounders, and the Susie Q’s. When Priscilla became a round dance cuer with the Triangle Squares in 1991, J.C. became Priscilla’s “roadie” and toted their equipment to all their dance classes and practices. He also formatted all her cue sheets on the computer and organized her records and song recordings that she used during each session.
Amid their square and round dance phase, J.C. joined Priscilla, Lara and Ryan in clogging and were members of the Peninsula Cloggers and Virginia Cloggers.
J.C. and Priscilla have remained active within their round dance club, the Susie Q’s, still putting on their dancing shoes as recently as November 2023.
Ervin, as he was known to his family, was a two-time cancer battle survivor.
James Ervin is survived by his wife, Priscilla, whom he married in 1960; his children James Corey (Hannah) Collins, Lara (JD) Hawthorne, and Ryan (Renee) Collins; his four grandsons, Jamey Page Collins, Caleb James Marley Collins, John Colin Hawthorne, and Mitchell Carter Hawthorne; and four siblings, Bennie Gail (Sam) Collins, Jean (Randall) Price, Deborah (Dana) Robinson, and Royce (Jennifer) Collins; and 20 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Alford Collins and Alta Hand Collins; and five siblings Lula Mae, W.A., Clarice Ray, Helen Fay, and Floyd Allen.
A memorial service to include military honors will be held at 2:00pm on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Wythe Presbyterian Church, 151 Robinson Road, Hampton, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or your local animal shelter.