AVA, Maya Nicole Collum, 24, of Ava, passed at 12:20 P.M. Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at her home in Ava, IL. She was born July 11, 1986 in Carbondale, Illinois, the daughter of Joseph D. Collum and Susan (Sanders) Collum. Maya is survived by her parents: Joseph and Susan Collum of Ava, IL; sister: Lily Collum of Ava, IL; Maternal Grandfather: Lyle Sanders and his wife Delia of Centralia, IL; Aunts and Uncles: Carolyn and Charles Arnold of Iuka, IL, John Collum of Salem, IL, Carl and Kathy Collum of Iuka, IL, David and Kim Collum of Benttendorf, IA, Angela and Will Sloss of Iuka, IL and Pam and Ben Ford of Iuka, IL; Numerous cousins and her beloved dog: Mr. Franz E. "Puppy" Pants; Dear friends: Kate Spiller, Heather Hill, Joani Skurat, Brandy Tripp and Steven Musial. She is preceded in death by her maternal grandmother: Betty (Elizabeth) Sanders of Centralia, IL; her paternal grandparents: Bill and Wanda Collum of Salem; paternal great grandparents: Bennie and Velma Gaston of Salem, IL. Maya was pursuing a career in fashion design. She graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in May of 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising with a concentration in Fashion Design. Maya designed and constructed a clothing line she called "Faux Vicious". It was presented at the SIU Spring 2009 Senior Fashion Show at the conclusion of this show Maya was announced as the first recipient of the "Senior Student Award of Excellence". She was chosen for this honor because of her dedication to the FDM Department and her work on designing, constructing and modeling a dress for the 2009 Aids Awareness Week on the SIUC campus, as well as her participation her junior and senior years in the Red Dress Show for the American Cancer Society. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made in her memory to the Fashion Design/Merchandising Activities Fund at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale.