A day on the golf course ended in heartbreak. A father and son—both well-loved in their community—were killed in a tragic accident during Saturday’s storms.
Authorities say 58-year-old Matthew Terrell Collins Sr. and his son, 29-year-old Matthew Terrell Collins Jr., were struck and killed by a falling tree while spending time together at Bull Creek Golf Course.
The two were caught in Sunday’s severe weather—sharing a father-son moment that would unknowingly be their last.
Now, friends and loved ones are rallying around the Collins family. A GoFundMe has been launched to help with funeral and memorial costs, with a goal of raising $20,000. Organizers say every donation—no matter the amount—will help a grieving wife and mother now facing the unthinkable: burying both her husband and her only son.
The Collins family is being remembered as loyal, kindhearted, and deeply connected to their community.
So far, over $14,000 has been raised.

B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.