of Conway, AR

January 19, 1939 - April 10, 2025

Reverend John Russell Collier, III, left this world to join his beloved Brenda on April 10, 2025 at the age of 86. John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Brenda Jane Parker Collier. He leaves two daughters, Shannon Collier-Tenison of Little Rock and Mardi Bowen of Allen, TX, along with their husbands, David Collier-Tenison and Michael Bowen, and five grandsons: Collier, Drew, and Aaron Bowen, and Sam and Jacob Collier-Tenison.
An only child, John was born January 19, 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee to J.R. and Frances Collier. He grew up in Hughes, AR, a community that was always home to him. John became a lay pastor in the United Methodist Church at the age of 17, a precursor to his life's occupation. He graduated from Hughes High School, where he played football, and developed life-long friendships. John then attended Hendrix College, where he earned a BA in Literature and met and fell in love with Brenda. They were both Hendrix Class of 1962 graduates. In July 1963, John joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Farragut for two years. John later went on to earn a Master of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology at SMU, 1968, and a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Arkansas, 1971.
After graduation from Perkins, John and Brenda returned to Arkansas from Texas where they lived and worked at the Methodist Children's Home in Little Rock. In 1971, they returned to Hughes to work in the Hughes Academy, where John was the principal and math teacher, much to Shannon's chagrin. Their circle of friends, comprised of fellow teachers and John's childhood friends, remained close for his lifetime. In 1976, John returned to his early passion, accepting an appointment in Forrest City at the First United Methodist Church. With this move, John followed his early calling and thrived in ministry with numerous appointments in northeastern Arkansas. John was always most at home in the delta and he loved his time in small towns such as Lepanto, Osceola, and Carlise. He also embraced his church families in West Memphis, Blytheville, Batesville, and Sherwood. John loved serving as a minister so much, it took two tries for him to retire, as he came out of retirement to serve Greenbrier UMC as his final charge.
John and Brenda retired to Conway where they joined Conway First United Methodist Church, with a host of other retired ministers and families, and reconnected with a community of Hendrix classmates and other old and new friends. John enjoyed teaching Sunday School and volunteering his time answering phones and greeting guests at Conway FUMC in his retirement as well. He also volunteered with the American Cancer Society. John also remained active in the church through his work with new lay ministers. He had a long history of mentoring new pastors in the church, a role he readily embraced that integrated his teaching and ministerial backgrounds.
The family would like to thank John's community of friends and colleagues who have cared for him so faithfully for so many years. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Conway First United Methodist Church or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

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