Learn more about Eleanor Collins husband, children, parents, and siblings as we delve into the family and personal life of the Canadian jazz singer, television host, and civic leader, who passed away on March 3, 2024, in Surrey, Canada, at the age of 104.
Eleanor Collins Husband and Children
Eleanor Collins married Richard Collins in 1942, maintaining their marriage for seven decades. In 1948, they relocated to Burnaby accompanied by her four children: Rick, Judith, Barry, and Tom Collins. Being the sole black family in the area, their arrival prompted neighbors to initiate an unsuccessful petition against them.
Her children faced bullying at school, prompting Collins to engage by volunteering and teaching music to Girl Guides. The family’s story was featured in the documentary “Hymn to Freedom: The History of Blacks in Canada” in 1994. During the early 1990s, she relocated to Surrey.
In recognition of her contributions, Collins was bestowed with the Order of Canada on her 95th birthday, November 21, 2014, and celebrated her centenary in 2019. Canada Post commemorated her achievements with a special stamp released on January 21, 2022.
Eleanor Collins Parents and Siblings
Eleanor Collins entered the world on November 21, 1919, in Edmonton, Alberta. Her lineage comprised both black and Creole Indian ancestry, with her parents originating from Oklahoma. They were among the many who responded to a 1906 advertisement offering land for sale at $10 per quarter section (160 acres/65 hectares), a move that attracted over 10,000 black homesteaders to the region.
During her youth, Collins immersed herself in music, singing hymns, religious melodies, and anthems, and actively participated in the Shiloh Baptist Church in Edmonton, established by recent immigrants like her family. Unfortunately, specific details about her parents’ identities and any siblings remain undisclosed to the public domain.