James W. Collier, Jr.

Mr. James W. Collier, Jr. of Ocean Springs, MS, age 72, passed away on Monday, February 1, 2016, with his family at his side. He was born on September 9, 1943 in Lexington, KY to Frances Baskett Collier and James William Collier, Sr. Jim received an M.B.A. from Murray State University and an M.A. from Webster University. He earned his B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He remained a lifelong loyal fan of the Kentucky Wildcats. He was a member of the Ocean Springs Rotary Club and was named Rotarian of the Year in 2011. During his tenure, he served as President of the Club in 2005 and made the Club first in the District to hold weekly meetings after Hurricane Katrina. He was chairman of the Rotary Scholarship Committee for many years. He was also an active member of the Historic Ocean Springs Association and served as member and past president of the Jackson County Health and Handicapped Services Board. He was involved in numerous community activities, as a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Ocean Springs, volunteer for the Salvation Army and the Peter Anderson Festival and as a member of the 5K Run for Art, Culture and Education Committee. He was a Paul Harris Fellow. Jim was a Diplomat of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and his professional career included 30 years of administrative positions in the health care field. He was in health care administration for the Singing River Hospital System from 1989 until his retirement as Associate Administrator of Ocean Springs Hospital in 2006. He had been an Assistant Administrator at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport prior to joining Singing River Hospital System. Before moving to the Coast, Jim was Director of Planning and Development at Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. He began his career in health care administration in 1972 as Health Planning Director of the Pennyrile Comprehensive Health Planning Council in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, later serving as District Assistant Director of the Pennyrile Area Development District. After receiving his MBA, he was an Administrative Assistant and later an accountant with the University of Kentucky. He also served in the Kentucky Army National Guard. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and by his maternal uncle, Jessie Shearle Baskett. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Craig Collier, sons, Craig of San Diego, California and Chris of Ocean Springs, sister, Carol Collier (Collin) Hyde of Lexington, Kentucky, as well as several nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 1:00 pm. Friends may visit from 12:00 pm until service time. Interment will be at the South Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Hazel, KY. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rotary Club of Ocean Springs, P.O. Box 456, Ocean Springs, MS 39566 (Jim Collier Scholarship) or to Methodist Senior Services Seashore Highlands, Memory Care, 12170 Highland Way, Gulfport, MS 39503.