Edna Mae Earles McCollum was born in the County of Spartanburg, Township of Cherokee, South Carolina on August 8, 1938 to Lillie Bell Earles and the late Jefferson Wilkins "J.W." Copeland.  Her early education was received in Washington, D.C.  At an early age, she joined the Holden Chapel Baptist Church in Boiling Springs, South Carolina.  After high school graduation, she worked at Gordon's Market for some time.

In July 1960, she married Robert Lee McCollum in Washington, D.C. and moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  While in Winston-Salem, she worked for a short time at Liberty Market, K&W Cafeteria, and Hanes Hosiery Factory.

In 1965, she and her husband and two children moved back to Washington, D.C.  She worked a short time at Marlo Furniture Store and then started her career in the Federal Government agencies.  After twenty-seven years of government services, she retired from the Department of Justice in 1994 and moved to Locust Grove, Virginia.  She became a member of Mount Hope Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where she was Secretary to Reverend Dr. Raymond Bell and made many friends.

In September 2005, she and her husband moved to Pfafftown, North Carolina where they rejoined Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church.

On Wednesday, June 26, 2019 she departed her earthly life.  She leaves to cherish her loving and devoted husband of almost sixty years, Robert Lee McCollum of the home.  She also leaves her mother, Lillie Bell Scruggs of Pfafftown, North Carolina; a son, Retired Major Byron DeWayne McCollum (Joyce) of Goodyear, Arizona; a daughter, Robin Renee Walls of Clemmons, North Carolina; one brother, Jay B. Scruggs, Jr. of Temple Hills, Maryland; three brothers-in-law, Theodore McCollum of Winston-Salem, Thaddeus (Twanda) McCollum of Lewisville, and Frazier (Denise) McCollum of Winston-Salem; two sisters-in-law, Barbara McCollum of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Rachel Austin of Winston-Salem; six grandchildren, Courtney, Justin, Mansa, Brandy, Tiffany, and Anthony; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.  She also leaves one dear friend of sixty-five years, Elizabeth (Wilbert) Tate of Colonial Beach, Virginia.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Dennis Leach officiating.  Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.  The family visitation will be held from 12:00noon until 1:00pm on Tuesday at the Church.