Bernadette Collazo

Bernadette Collazo Mrs. Bernadette Anita Tench Collazo, 51, of Rayle, died June 25, 2011 at her home.She is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, the daughter of Richard and Marjorie Kramer Tench.Mrs. Collazo was the widow of Israel Collazo.She was also an avid reader, writer and poet.Coming from a long line of musicians, she had the voice of an angel-singing in clubs and bars in a band with her father and brother in her younger days.She also enjoyed crafts, such as cross-stitch and puzzles.Bernadette's love of history also gave her inspiration to begin tracing the family's history.Searching for God, until the end, she always believed that we all have a personal relationship with our Lord, and she cherished this aspect of soul searching. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 28th at 4:00pm in Hopkins Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Madden officiating.The family will receive friends from 2:30pm until service time. Survivors include one daughter, Lisa Ann Swearingen, Port Orange, FL; one son, Zachariah Marly Wilson Collazo, Rayle; parents, Marjorie and Richard Tench, Rayle; sister, Lynn Ann Tench, Jacksonville, FL; brother, Richard Michael Tench, Boca Raton, FL; nephew Richard Michael Tench, Jr.; niece Christina Michelle Tench and life companion Samuel William Smith and his daughter, Jasmine Lynn Smith. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis or to the Mary Willis Library, Washington, Ga.