Several doors opened for Joyce Chisholm Collins in the early 1960s, when she became one of the first African-American secretaries to work in City Hall. But one door she probably didn't expect to open was the one to the closet.

"They cleaned the closet out and gave it to her as an office," said Pip Moyer, an alderman at the time.

The city was still struggling with the stain of segregation, and putting Mrs. Collins in the closet might have been a ploy by some to keep her from the public.

"I said, 'Don't worry. I'll be mayor in two years and you'll be head secretary,"' Mr. Moyer said.

He kept his promise. In 1965, Mrs. Collins moved front and center into the mayor's office to become his administrative assistant.

In only a short time, friends said she won the hearts of everyone there.

And her intelligence, strong work ethic and personality helped her break down racial barriers across the city, Mr. Moyer said.

"She was a pioneer," he said.

Mrs. Collins died Sunday, August 27th after battling multiple sclerosis. The lifelong Annapolis resident was 57 years old. Mrs. Collins worked for Mr. Moyer from 1965 to 1973.

"A wonderful person"

"She knew how to speak out and how to accomplish things," he said. "A wonderful person. Bright and talented."

As his administrative assistant, Mrs. Collins helped out with almost every mayoral task. She especially excelled at helping people in low-income housing, Mr. Moyer said.

"She was 'His Girl Friday,"' said Joseph "Zastrow" Simms, a longtime family friend. "She was always there for the city of Annapolis."

Mrs. Collins is pictured on the far left of this photograph with author Alex Haley.

While working for the mayor, Mrs. Collins traveled to Washington, D.C., to help obtain money for urban renewal, Mr. Simms said.

After eight years as Mr. Moyer's administrative assistant, Mrs. Collins worked in the purchasing and contracts division of Honeywell Inc., as a receptionist for former County Executive Robert Pascal and other county offices. She stopped working about three years ago.

Yet with all of her responsibilities, she still kept close ties with her friends and family members.

"She was a person who could walk with kings and never lose a common touch," Mr. Simms said.

City residents of all ages knew her for her persistence, personality and beauty both inside and outside.

"She was very easy on the eyes," Mr. Simms said. "She was drop dead beautiful."

As a teen-ager, Mrs. Collins was the queen of the Masonic Temple ball, he said. She also won the title of "Homecoming Queen" at the Bates High School in 1961.

Cousin and high school classmate Darlene Washington recalled several times when Mrs. Collins kept her laughing for hours.

"We had so much fun," Ms. Washington said.

Even though Mrs. Collins lived on Fleet Street and Ms. Washington lived "down the country" in Shady Side, the two were extremely close.

They cut each others' hair, made french fries by peeling potatoes late at night with Mrs. Collins' father and designed paper dolls. Mrs. Collins even taught Ms. Washington how to play checkers, just as their older family members used to do in front of their Fleet Street homes.

"She taught me just so she could beat me," she said with a laugh.

"She touched a lot of lives."

Another cousin, Jacqueline Matthews, remembered Mrs. Collins for her artistic handwriting and soothing voice.

"She was like the James Earl Jones of voices," she said.

Mrs. Washington said her passing is a great loss.

"She touched a lot of lives," she said.

But the family is confident her legacy will live on through her only son, Blair C. Smith. He has the same strong and spiritual personality as his mother. In addition to her son, Mrs. Collins is survived by her husband, Leland L. Collins, and a host of cousins.

Funeral services were held the morning of Friday, September 1, in Annapolis.

Published 09/01/00, Copyright © 2000
The Capital, Annapolis, Md.

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