Long time educator Rhoda Glasco Snead Collins has passed on
By Rhoda Foderingham
Rhoda Glasco Snead Collins, daughter of the late Clarence Glasco, Sr. and Lydia Wilson Glasco, was born in West Chester, Penn. on April 20, 1920. She passed on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 at the Rose of Sharon Garden Assisted Living Facility in Sunrise, Fla. where she was under the care of VITAS.
She was introduced to her first piano teacher at the age of four. Around the same time period Mrs. Collins’ father exposed her to the game of baseball. This was the beginning of two passions that developed throughout her life: the love of music and sports.
Mrs. Collins received the Bachelor of Science in Public School Music with a minor in English from West Chester State Teachers’ College (now West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania). From the Ivy League, University of Pennsylvania, she received her Master’s Degree in Music Education. She pursued further study at Hampton Institute in Virginia, Pennsylvania State University and Loyola University in New Orleans.
Her first teaching assignment was at Central High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Her magnificent salary was $90.00 per month. Today’s professional athletes make at least that much in a minute.
During this period the country was engaged in World War II. The music teacher at her home elementary school was drafted by the military for a period of three years. This vacancy was offered to Rhoda and she accepted. Consequently, she found herself working with the person who had been her principal when she was in school and with five teachers who had taught her.
At the end of the three year period, Rhoda resolved to en-large her horizons and relocated from West Chester. Mrs. Collins accepted a position as choral director and music department head at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida.
From Edward Waters College, she came to Fort Lauderdale, where she taught at Dillard High School for 24 years. She taught English during her first two years at Dillard. She held the position as head of the Music Department during her remaining 22 years.
The Dillard choruses were active in the community and throughout the State of Florida. In competition at county and state festivals, the Dillard soloist ensemble and choruses received many Superior ratings during the mid-60s. The Dillard choruses travelled to North and South Carolina where they performed at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte and Allen University in Columbia. Their travels also included Nassau, Bahamas. Every Christmas and Easter they participated in the early morning service at Sweeting Estate in Fort Lauderdale.
During the final 10 years before her official retirement in 1981, she worked in the same capacity at Nova Middle School with emphasis on the choral groups. From 1977-1992, she continued working with the Broward County School Board directing and accompanying the Dillard Adult Choral. This group was composed of former students, former co-workers and members of the community who shared the love of music. The repertoire ranged from sacred music to secular, classic to contemporary and folk music, and original spirituals, to Broadway tunes and jazz. The Chorale participated yearly at the Bethune-Cookman College Music Festival in Daytona Beach.
In 1986, she spent a semester as Director of Choral Music at Everglades Middle School (now William E. Dandy Middle School).
Over a period of years Rhoda was church organist/choir director at St. Christopher Episcopal, Mt. Hermon A.M.E. and at St. John Methodist churches. Eventually she landed in the same capacity at Episcopal Church of the Inter-cession where she served as the organist and choir director for 25 years. She taught piano lessons to students and adults in the community for more than 50 years. Many of the lessons were provided at no charge.
Mrs. Rhoda Snead Collins has been the recipient of many honors, certificates, plaques and awards. Her most highly cherished honors are the dedication of a doctoral thesis at Cornell University by Dr. Horace A. Judson (Dillard 1959), currently the President of Knoxville College, Knoxville, Tennessee, and the music scholarship instituted by the Dillard High School Class of 1960.
Over 50 years ago, she was initiated into the Zeta Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she served many years as musician for the Chapter and its numerous community programs.
Mrs. Collins was pre-deceased in death by her pa-rents, her siblings (Clarence Glasco, Jr. and Wayne T. Glasco) and her husband, Rev. Joseph P. Collins. She leaves to cherish her memories: her namesake and niece, Rhoda Glasco Foderingham; her niece Patricia Glasco West (Richard); sister-in-law Lillian P. Glasco; her stepchildren Joseph Collins, Jr., Thomas Collins (Katie), Ronald Collins (Rosie), Rachel V. Drew (Vernon) and Ruby I. Black (Charles); and many ex-tended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the RGSC Scholarship. Contributions should be made payable to Dillard High School/RGSC Scholarship and mailed to Dillard High School, 2501 N.W. 11 St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 33311 Attn: Bookkeeper.
Viewing: Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012 5 to 7 p.m. Roy Mizell& Kurtz Funeral Home Chapel, 1305 Northwest Sixth St. (Sis-trunk Boulevard), Fort Lauder-dale, Fla. Memorial Service: Immediately following the viewing. Interment: Private Graveside Services (Family only), Friday, Sept. 7, 2012
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