Augusta Bobbie (Boston) McCollum

Augusta “Bobbie” McCollum was a classy and cultured lady who lived a full life. She has done so many things over the years. Bobbie served in multiple roles, hosted multiple events, and participated on a plethora of committees. Bobbie was active in K-6 education and worked in the Cumberland County School System when her children were in attendance there.

Her presence and influence could be felt in both the military and civilian communities. In her nearly 50 years as an active member of Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, and as part of the Fort Bragg Lay community, she served as President of the Protestant Women of the Chapel and she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School on Fort Bragg. She attended Adult Sunday School, she sang joyfully with the Senior Gospel Choir, and she was part of the Women’s Ministry and the Floral Club of Lewis Chapel.

Bobbie was born on October 17, 1934, in Winnfield, Louisiana. She was the third of four daughters born to the late Dennis and Christine Boston — Eudora Clark (deceased), Fredonia Boston (deceased), and Mary Barnum (Los Angeles, California).

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother and friend to all who knew her. She absolutely devoted her life to her family and loved and treasured each and every one of them in her “own special way”. She was affectionally called Mama, Mom, Mother, Grandmother and Nan, and she answered to them all!

As the wife of a military officer, she traveled and lived in multiple US cities and states and abroad. She demonstrated a keen ability to hold things together while having to sometimes be alone to raise their children during deployments or family separations or coordinating moves and relocations. Bobbie said that “this was never a hindrance; it strengthened her.”

Bobbie is an alumnus of Grambling State University and was part of the basketball team and was a majorette. She was the first in her family to attend college. It was during this time that she met her husband, LT James Monroe McCollum, Sr.

Before his untimely death in September 1999, they spent nearly four decades together. Their union produced four wonderful children — Steve Garner (Manassas, VA), Tonya McCollum (Winston-Salem, NC), James Monroe McCollum, Jr (Fayetteville, NC) and Ramona McCollum (Fayetteville, NC), six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Her family and friends admired her ability to hold things together with such precision and grace and skill. Faith makes things possible, not easy. We will continue to hold you in our hearts. Rest in Peace. You will be missed.

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