Tyrelle J. Collins

Tyrelle James Collins, 46, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on Friday, April 5,2024.

Tyrelle was born on February 15, 1978, to Adriene Pitts and Tremell Collins in Hartford, Connecticut.  He attended Warren Central high where he played varsity basketball and was on the varsity track & field team.  After Tyrelle graduated from Warren Central high school in 1996, he went on to study communications at Purdue University, after receiving a scholarship to run track.  While in attendance, he and two other students became the founders of “The Kitchen Table”, a campus organization created to help bring all races together.  

After graduating with a degree in Communications, he started his first job in the Indianapolis Public School District as a teacher, kickstarting a 26-year career in education, to include IPS 51, IPS 61, Crispus Attucks, Howe, Arsenal Tech, Phalen Academy, and Belzer.   In addition to teaching, he served as a basketball coach at Lawrence Central (Freshman), Warren Central (JV, Freshman), Howe High, Pike High,  and Arsenal Tech high-school (Freshman).  He also coached track & field at Lawrence Central (Boys) and Cathedral high-school (Boys).     In 2008, after several years of intense studying, Tyrelle obtained his Masters of Arts in Education from the University of Phoenix.  In January of this year, he decided to pursue his dream to become a school principal and entered Butler University’s Masters of Administration Program.

Tyrelle was a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity – Zeta Phi Chapter where he served as Basileus (President) from 2011 – 2013, and was the former Fundraising Chairman.  He also held the positions of Youth Director of Washington Township Lamplighters Mentoring Program; co-founder of Quepid Sweetheart Ball; founder of the Black Love Affair, founder of Skyline After 5; Mentor Liaison for IPS 88, and founder of the TJC Group, just to mention a few.   He received numerous awards, one of which he was a recipient of the Big Ten Football Educational Grant and was celebrated at the Big Ten Championship for academic excellence.  He served on several community boards and launched his first brand, “Mastering Your Gift” in 2020.

Tyrelle was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Judge Owens and Nancy Pitts Owens both of Hartford, CT, fraternal grandparents, Willie Collins and Elaine Clements Collins both of Hartford, CT, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.  He is survived by his daughter, Journee Collins, his son, Tyrelle James Collins II, extended family, daughter Mya Parker, and sons, Kendrick and Kamar’e Carter, a devoted nieces, Leyana Taylor of Indianapolis, IN, Malia Collins and Jania Collins, both of New Britain, CT, his mother, Adriene Lewis of Fishers, Indiana, his father, Tremell Collins of Seattle, WA, his brothers, Xavier Weatherford II, of Indianapolis, IN, Jordan Weatherford of Phoenix, AZ, Trevon Collins and Tremell Collins II, both of New Britain, CT, his sister, Stacia Weatherford of Fishers, IN, step-father and mother, Xavier and Tracey Weatherford of Indianapolis,, IN, grandmother, Aurelia Weatherford of Grand Rapids, MI; uncles and aunts: Hayward and Helen Talbert of East Hartford, CT, Pastor Stanley and Kim Collins of   Palmdale, CA, Guy and Sharon Collins of New London, CT,  Bishop Darryl and Veronica Collins of Ft. Richie, FL,  Russell and Barbara Williams of Kentwood MI., Richard and Rene Weatherford of Grand Rapids, MI,  aunt Delphine Cortes of Southington, CT, aunt Geraldine Morris of Hartford, CT., aunt Gloria Johnson of St. Petersburg, FL, aunt Barbara Wallace and LaRonna Ward, both of East Hartford, CT., uncle Kelvin Pitts of Manchester, CT. and uncle Michael Weatherford of Grand Rapids, MI; his devoted cousins, Tashanda Kelly, New Milford, NJ, Shatina Parker, Hartford CT, Diane Ross, Bristol, CT, and many other cousins, aunts, and uncles.  

Services will be held at Heartland Church, 14900 126^th Street, Fishers, Indiana 46037, on Thursday, April 18, 2023, at 9:30 a.m.  Repast to follow at 3:00 pm, Estereo, 6378 E. 82^nd St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46250.  All flowers should be sent to the church.