By Jeff Warren
Since the end of last week, three Jasper banks have authorized special accounts for the benefit of David Collins' dependents. Collins is the Pickens County Soldier killed in Iraq, Sunday, April 9.
Pharmacist Jackie Dunn of Jasper Drugs initiated an account at Jasper Banking Company on Monday. Community Bank of Pickens County followed on Tuesday. An unnamed individual stepped forward at the end of last week to begin an account at Crescent Bank.
The Crescent account, The Elizabeth and James Collins Benefit Account, is designed to assist Collins' family with immediate needs.
"People are already depositing to this account," said Head Teller Vangie Ashbeck of Crescent Bank's main office on Highway 515 in Jasper. "There's no time frame on this. It's just a checking account that was set up for the children's needs. It goes to benefit the children."
The death of Army Sergeant Collins in Iraq left two children fatherless. Collins' daughter, Elizabeth (age two), and son, James (six months), are in the care of Collins' widow, Mara Collins, herself a former soldier.
Individuals can contribute to the Crescent account through any of the bank's ten banking locations. "If they want to deposit to it, they just need to tell us they want to deposit to The Elizabeth and James Collins Benefit Account, and we can take care of it for them," Ashbeck assured. Locally, Crescent Bank has offices at the Ingles Shopping Center on Highway 515 and at Marble Hill and Canton. Melissa Jordan, assistant vice president for customer service at Community Bank of Pickens County, said the benefit account at that bank is also dedicated as immediate aid to Collins' family.
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Jordan said individuals can contribute to the account through the office of Community Bank on Georgia Highway 53 at Sammy McGhee Boulevard near the Burger King. Another account, set up at Jasper Banking Company, is dedicated to higher education for the Collins children. Jasper Banking Company Assistant Vice President Kathy Westbrook explained how the account works. "We'll take all the contributions that are made, and we'll notify the family who has made contributions on their behalf," she said.
Westbrook said contributors to this account can continue giving into the future. The account will grow until Elizabeth and James Collins are ready for college. A family member will serve as custodian of the account. Contributions to this college fund should be earmarked for the David Collins Memorial Fund.
"You can either mail them directly to Jasper Banking Company at P. O. Box 487, or you can give through the main office or the Ingles branch," Westbrook advised. The main office of Jasper Banking Company is at 100 Mark Whitfield Street in downtown Jasper, near the Old Jail.
Jackie Dunn said he started the account at Jasper Banking Company in part because he remembers coaching David Collins in community athletics when the Pickens County soldier was just a boy. "The young man went out and fought for us and our country," Dunn said, "and I just think we need to do something from our community." |