Robert Lee McCollum was born in Forsyth County, in the city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina on June 18, 1938 to the late Lieutenant Wilks McCollum and Maude Lewis McCollum. He was the sixth of eight children. He proudly informed everyone that he delivered newspapers at the age of ten.

He earned his education in Forsyth County Schools and was elected Senior Class President for the Class of 1956 of Atkins High School. He was also called on to speak at many Atkins High School Reunions. After his high school graduation, he joined the United States Air Force in July 1956. Robert served as a Communication Specialist. He proudly shared his stories of serving in Turkey. Robert was Honorably Discharged from the Air Force in July 1960.

After his military career, he worked at R.J. Reynolds in the Plug Division. In July 1960, he married Edna Mae Earles in Washington, DC and moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 1965, Robert, Edna, and their two children moved back to Washington, DC.   While in the DC area, he worked for the National Weather Service as a Computer Analyst, D.C. General Hospital as a Computer Analyst, and for the D.C. Government as Deputy Director of Child Support Services. After working for the Government for over 35 years, he retired in October 1991. He and Edna then moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where joined Mount Hope Baptist Church and served as a Deacon and as a Board Member.

In September 2005, he and Edna moved to Pfafftown, North Carolina where they rejoined Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church. He served various roles at the Church to include Men's Sunday School teacher as well as President of the Senior Choir.

He spent many years fishing and crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay with his family. He was also a tremendous bowler, swimmer, tennis player and golfer.

On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, he departed his earthly life. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife who passed in June of 2019. He leaves his son, Retired Major Byron DeWayne McCollum (Joyce) of Goodyear, Arizona; his daughter, Robin Renee Walls of Forest Oaks, North Carolina; three brothers, Theodore McCollum of Winston Salem, Thaddeous (Twanda) McCollum of Lewisville, and Frazier (Denise) McCollum of Winston Salem; one sister, Rachel Austin of Winston-Salem; one sister-in-law, Augusta McCollum of Fayetteville, North Carolina; one brother-in-law, Jay B. Scruggs, Jr. of Temple Hills, MD. He also leaves five grandchildren, Courtney, Justin, Brandy, Tiffany, and Anthony; ten great-grandchildren; a host of loving nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 10:00am until 11:00am on Saturday at the Church.