Georgia Wilderness Society
Niki Collins Queen left the mortal world in December 2025, joining her beloved husband Bud on a flight through the Milky Way.
Niki was born in New Orleans on June 15, 1950, but lived her early days in South Africa. Returning to the U.S. in the early 1970s, she first worked as a flight attendant for Pan American before being employed as a Child and Family Therapist at River Edge Behavioral Center in Macon.
Niki received a Master of Science Degree in Community Mental Health from Fort Valley State College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mercer University in Macon.
Her other interests included art, philosophy, and photography. She became an ordained minister for the Alliance of Divine Love International Interfaith Ministry in the 1980s.
As a widely-read author, she wrote a memoir and articles published in the Atlanta Journal, Macon Telegraph, Monroe County Reporter and other literary venues.
Over the years, Niki compiled an impressive outdoor resume which included hitchhiking on sailboats in the Bahamas, canoeing the entire Everglades Wilderness Waterway and backpacking in the north Georgia mountains. She later led numerous canoeing, hiking, and backpacking trips for the Georgia Wilderness Society, serving as President in 1992. The GWS awarded her its Gene Espy and Earl Pearce awards for outstanding community service and leadership.
She married Bud Queen in 1998, beginning a long and love-filled union which continued for nearly 30 years. Their life together was a celebration of their shared love of the
Niki Collins Queen
December 2025
Forsyth, Georgia
In Memoriam
outdoors and aims of serving their community.
Niki was preceded in passing by her father Nicholas Lawrence LaRocca, her step father, Johan Crous and mother Elizabeth Violet Crous and grandmother Alida Seymour.
She is survived by her beloved caregiver Gina Hunter, sister Jacqui Bester, brother Stefan Crous. Her fur babies Panda, who pulled her wheel chair for her, and Katie, also survive her.
Niki is being greatly missed by her many friends of the Georgia Wilderness Society. Her infectious smile, bright sunny personality, and persistent South African accent endeared her to all. A celebration of life will be held at her former dwelling in Monroe County on 23 April at 4pm. Friends and family are all invited to attend.
