AVA COLLINS FUSSELL

Ava Collins Fussell, age 87, passed away January 18th. She came from Cairo, Georgia by way of Illinois with her husband and family in 1958. Survivors include her husband and soul mate for 67 years, Lewis W. Fussell, her son William C. Fussell and wife Glenda, her daughter Elizabeth F. Shepherd and husband Michael; grandchildren, Derek Fussell and wife Karla, Alison Latham and husband Kristopher, Leanne Hussion and husband Andy, and Melissa Cooper and husband Chris; great-grandchildren, Laura and Christopher Fussell, Jacob and Natalie Latham, and Molly Anne Cooper. She was predeceased by her parents Will H. and Mamie Nix Collins, two sisters Doris Mann and Billie Salerno, and her best friend Helen Goss.
Before retirement Ava taught primary school in Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, and Bay County Florida, including Panama Grammar, Cedar Grove Elementary, and Tyndall Elementary.
She gave more than 60 years of dedicated service to the music ministry of Baptist churches and missions in Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, and Florida, worked as a mission volunteer for SBC in Nevada, Idaho, and Jamaica, and was a volunteer with the Rutherford High School chorus.
Visitation for friends will be at First Baptist Church of Panama City on Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. followed by the funeral service to celebrate her life. Burial will take place on Saturday at 11 a.m. EST at the Collins Family Cemetery located on her family's home place in Cairo, GA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ava Fussell's name may be made either to Panama City Rescue Mission, 609 Allen Avenue, Panama City, Florida 32401 or Camo Dreams, Inc., 6618 Nadine Road, Panama City, Florida 32404 (a non-profit charitable organization created by her grandson, Derek Fussell, to provide handicapped and terminally ill children with dream hunting trips.)

Wilson Funeral Home