BY MIKE FUHRMAN
The Hon. Robert Alvis Collier Jr. was remembered on Saturday afternoon for his fairness and compassion as a judge, for his unconditional love for his family, friends and the UNC Tar Heels, and for his lifetime of service to his community and the State of North Carolina.
A large crowd attended the Celebration of Life Service for the retired Superior Court judge and former chair of the N.C. Board of Transportation at Broad Street United Methodist Church. Collier, 93, passed away on September 8 after a period of declining health.
A life-long member of Broad Street UMC, Collier lived out his faith every day in his professional and personal life, Rev. Tracy Schumpert told the crowd.
“He led a life of humility and kindness and had a steadfast belief in helping others,” she said.
Through his service on the bench, to the NCDOT, the Morehead Scholarship Committee and numerous local civic organizations, the judge was “a catalyst for change,” Schumpert added, “and he embraced every opportunity to bless others.”
Collier also enjoyed organizing deep sea fishing trips, made a legendary Bloody Mary, and relished his many friendships, which were “marked by length and depth.”
Leon Capel, who met Collier during their undergraduate days in Chapel Hill, reminisced about their friendship, which spanned more than 70 years. In their college days, Collier was “the real cool cat from Statesville.” Proud of his Scottish heritage, he enjoyed haggis, loved to “sip a nip of happiness,” and did not like to miss a Tar Heels football or basketball game, Capel told the crowd. At the Blowing Rock Horse Show, Collier was a gracious host, revered for serving up libations, pimento cheese sandwiches and peanuts in his box.
Beyond that, Collier earned a reputation for honesty and sincerity, and he was well respected by everyone who knew him. That reverence, Capel said, will continue even after the judge’s death.
“Love does not have an expiration date,” he said.
Another long-time friend, T.C. Homesley, encouraged those who came to celebrate Judge Collier’s life to read his obituary, which detailed his lifetime of extraordinary service. In his remarks, Homesley detailed aspects of his friend’s life that did not make it into the obituary. Trips to the Goodie Shop in Chapel Hill, his deep and lasting love for his wife Barbara, his appointment to the bench by a governor determined to clean up the judiciary, his work spearheading the design and construction of the Iredell County Courthouse in Statesville and his tireless efforts to improve the state’s roads, bridges and airport were worth remembering, Homesley said.
As a judge, arbitrator and mediator, Collier was known for being fair, Homesley said.
The friends enjoyed trips to ACC Basketball Tournaments to cheer on the Tar Heels as well two NCAA National Championships won by UNC under Coach Roy Williams. They also enjoyed private events attended by legendary Coach Dean Smith, including one in which Collier was adamant that they would not leave until the coach had left.
The judge loved fine dining, and he loved to give a toast, Homesley said, ending his remembrance with one of Collier’s favorites.
“Goodbye, my friend. I love you still,” he concluded.
Robert A. Collier III also shared memories of his father, elaborating on his lifelong commitment to his family. “He was a loving, caring person who did everything he could to help us.”
His father was equally committed to serving his community, state and country. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1954 and served one term in the N.C. General Assembly before being tapped for a judicial appointment in 1968. During his 20 years as a Superior Court judge, Collier presided in every judicial district in North Carolina.
Throughout his life, the judge stressed the importance of serving others.
The younger Collier remembered a time when he was a rebellious teenager, accompanying his father on an outing to help someone else. When he asked his father why they were always doing things for other people, Judge Collier replied:
“Why are we here if we can’t help someone in need?”