Lenzora and Lucille Collier – Who They Were
Both Lenzora and Lucille Collier were lifelong residents of Marianna (Lee County), Arkansas. Marianna was, especially when Lenzora and Lucille were young, and is a farm community. Most of her inhabitants work, own, or have some association with farming.
Lenzora Collier came from a family of hard working people. His father never learned to read or write, but his mother was fortunate enough to have. She was a very spiritual, intelligent, and inspiring person. She instilled in her children a sense of fairness, community responsibility and acceptance of others. Lenzora was the eldest child. Although he had many tasks to complete related to farming the land the family owned, he was still able to go to school, and graduated from high school.
Lucille Edwards Collier came from a family of landowners and educators. She gained a genuine appreciation for the value of education at a young age. However, she sacrificed her ambition for her own education to the nurturing of her children. She bore nine, and her lifelong endeavor was making sure she did a good job toward their development. She had high expectations of each of her children and assured them that they could attain anything they wanted to in life.
From this heritage comes a strong desire to help others achieve their career and educational aspirations.
Even though Lenzora and Lucille lived in a time that did not encourage or acknowledge achievement in their community, they still chose to seek the best for their family.
Even though they lived in an impoverished area compared to today’s standards, they still chose to work hard, sacrifice, and make the best of what they had.
Even though they had many societal and personal challenges, they still chose to overcome them and instilled that same determination in each of their children.
All eight of their surviving children graduated from the public schools of Lee County, Arkansas—specifically from Robert R. Moton High School, Anna M. P. Strong High School or Lee High School. All of them excelled academically in these schools. Through the sacrifice and encouragement of Lenzora and Lucille Collier, all eight of their children obtained college degrees.
To honor the memory of their parents – Lenzora and Lucille Collier – their surviving children have established this scholarship to build on the model so firmly instilled in them by their parents. Because of their vision, their children went on to live better lives than they may otherwise have lived. Through this scholarship, the successors wish to assist eligible graduates of the Lee County Public Schools to advance themselves. It is hoped that this scholarship will enable a deserving and dedicated young person to enter the college of their choice; complete their college education; and go on to, not only enjoy success in life, but to also make a positive contribution to society.