Festivities, parade celebrate lives of detective, youth center’s leader
A celebratory parade and tribute were held outside City Hall in memory of the late Wanda Bateman and Pine Bluff police detective Kevin Collins on Tuesday, which also happened to be Collins’ birthday.
Bateman passed away in February 2020 and Collins was fatally wounded in the line of duty in October. Both were active in the community and their absence has been felt by family members and friends who turned out to celebrate their lives.
The parade route began at Eighth Avenue and Convention Center Street with flashing lights and sirens by the Police Department, the Jefferson County sheriff’s office, and the Fire Department.
Also in the parade were horses from the Arkansas Department of Correction, a motorcycle club and a Corvette club.
Immediately after the parade, the celebration and tribute began on the east side of City Hall where dozens were in attendance.
“When we think of Wanda Bateman, we think of the queen,” said Mary Liddell, who offered words of celebration. “She knew Pine Bluff had a lot of people that needed help, and she always worked with the food bank to make sure this happened.”
Liddell said Bateman collected more than 86,000 boxes of cereal by 2019 for a cereal drive that she hosted each summer.
Bateman was most remembered by the community for the impact she had on the children who attended the Wanda Bateman Youth Center.
“Wanda Bateman really meant a lot to us,” said Cortne Sykes, 27, who attended the youth center at the age of 11. “I lost my brother at the age of 12, and I can honestly say I was headed down a dangerous path. When I started to attend the Wanda Bateman Youth Center, I was surrounded by people that actually took the time to understand my anger. I was surrounded by people that actually took the time to try to give me a positive outlet for my anger.”
Sykes said the support system she received then is the same outlet needed right now in Pine Bluff.
“That is what our youth need right now,” said Sykes. “My peers and I from the Wanda Bateman Youth Center greatly appreciate everything Mrs. Bateman did for us because if she wouldn’t of done that for us a lot of us would probably not be here today or as successful as we are today.”
Many remembered Collins, who worked closely with Bateman.
“He had the opportunity to work with her through the Wanda Bateman Youth Center, named in her honor through 2008-2011,” said Liddell. “His passion was working with the youth and the young at heart.”
Collins was also known for his wit and character that always kept those around him laughing.
His sister Brandi Reed recalled how funny her brother was but says the family is still grieving.
“We miss him a lot and we know he wouldn’t want us down,” said Reed. “He would want us to keep pushing. He always took care of our momma so that’s our main goal, to make sure she is OK. We are trying to fill his shoes.”
Collins’ mother, Dornetta Collins-Hobbs, said on the morning of her son’s birthday, her telephone was busy with calls from her “blue-line family” and who she refers to as her “blue kids,” the officers from the department.
Having cried so many tears, Hobbs said it brought her joy to see how many people loved her son.
“Look at me. You see hurt. Look at me, you see a person who on October 5, 2020, thought that I couldn’t make it anymore,” said Hobbs. “You look at me and see a mother whose heart feels like it’s been torn out but realize it’s not all about me.”
Reed said it made the family feel good that her brother had such an impact on so many people in the community.
“He enjoyed just helping people. I didn’t know he had so much time to help as many people as he did,” said Reed, who lives in Little Rock.
To keep the memory of both Bateman and Collins alive, Liddell said the cereal drives will continue and so will involvement with the young people that will help push the city forward.
Hobbs stressed the hate for one another needed to end so that love and healing could begin in Pine Bluff.
“We have got to come together as one because Pine Bluff got some problems,” said Hobbs, who added the problem is occurring everywhere in the city. “We have got to stick together. We got to show love. We got to teach love. We got to be love. Let’s give light. That’s how we can honor Wanda Bateman and Kevin Collins.