Jean Collum
Jean Runyan Collum, 82, died on January 18, 2017, at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, surrounded by her loving family.
Born Feb. 22, 1934, Jean was the daughter of Nancy Forestine Henegar Runyan and Lonnie Clabe Runyan. Jean was born in Bridgeport, Alabama and her family moved to Chattanooga when she was eight years old.
Jean graduated from Central High School, class of 1952, and then worked at Rogers Lingerie in downtown Chattanooga. On March 12, 1955, Jean married Hubert Dawson Collum, who preceded her in death on March 3, 1976. After staying home to raise her three children, she attended Chattanooga State and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Jean worked as a library aide at Brown Middle School and an office manager at AG Campbell Construction Company, Higgins Insurance Company, and Wallis Construction Company. She retired from Wallis Construction in 2000.
When her children were young, Jean spent much of her time volunteering as a Cub Scout leader, Boy Scout leader, Brownie leader, and Girl Scout leader. She started a first aid room at Westview Elementary School and spent time volunteering and recruiting other volunteers. She also taught Sunday School for many years at Tiftonia Baptist Church. Jean was very active in the singles group at First Centenary Baptist Church. Jean was a member of First Centenary United Methodist Church and attended Christ United Methodist Church. Jean enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Every Wednesday, Jean and her family went out to eat and spent quality time together. Jean was known to be very social and would talk often to her friends. She could be counted on to be the last person at a party, but would make up for it by bringing one of her famous homemade cakes and being the last to leave.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
She is survived by her siblings, Alma Lois Runyan of Chattanooga and Elizabeth Runyan Carnahan and husband, Earl, of Hendersonville, Tn.
She is survived by her children, Nancy Jean Collum, Ann Collum Badgley and husband, Jeff, and David Thomas Collum and wife, Kim, all of Chattanooga. She is survived by seven grandchildren, Katherine Emily Collum of Chattanooga, Jacob Thomas Collum (Erin) of Fayetteville, Ar.; Matthew Dawson Collum (Sara) of St. Louis, Mo.; Sarah Badgley Harbour of Austin, Tx.; Seth Welling Badgley, Hannah Marie Badgley, and Margaret Claire Badgley all of Chattanooga. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Emma, Deuce, and Irons Harbour, all of Austin.
Services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 12:30 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Reverend David Hall officiating.
Burial will follow at Lakewood Memory Gardens, East.
Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family and view the memorial tribute.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.
Jean Collum