10/03/2026
A mother in Rocky Mount is holding tightly to her faith as she waits and worries for her son serving far away in the Middle East, where tensions have recently grown.
Ebony Collins’ son, Jaden Collins, serves in the U.S. Navy as a logistics specialist. He has been stationed in the Middle East since January 2025. Jaden graduated from Leesville High School and chose to enlist in the Navy shortly after finishing school.
For Ebony, the worry grew even heavier after hearing reports of drones appearing in the skies over the region this past weekend. The thought that her child is so far away, in the middle of a dangerous situation, has been overwhelming. At times, she finds herself asking the same painful question in her mind: “Where is my child? Where is my son?”
The anxiety became so strong that she eventually had to stop watching the news and step away from social media because every update made her worry even more.
Through it all, Ebony says prayer and faith are what keep her strong.
She says she is surrounded by people who pray with her and support her during these uncertain days. Still, the emotions sometimes break through.
One moment that hit her especially hard happened during a quick trip to Sam’s Club. She had only gone in to buy one item, but while standing in the checkout line, the weight of everything became too much. Thinking about her son so far away, she suddenly broke down in tears.
After sharing her worries online and asking people to pray for Jaden’s safety, something beautiful happened. Messages of support began pouring in. Many came from friends, but others came from complete strangers. People sent kind words, prayers, and even handwritten notes. Some even shared photos of their notes as a way of standing with her in faith.
Even from thousands of miles away, Ebony wants her son to know he is never alone.
She says she prays for him every single day. She told him that his younger brother misses him deeply, and so do his grandparents. The entire family is waiting and hoping for the day they can hug him again.
There was one small moment of relief this week — Ebony heard from Jaden earlier on Wednesday. He told her that he is safe right now. Still, as tensions continue overseas, a mother’s heart continues to worry and pray.