Virginia Hollis blazed a trail of 90 years which brought honor to her God, her family and friends and all those souls who benefitted from her encouragement and her genuine love as their “Bookmobile” Lady. Virginia Rae Hankins was born in Vernon, Ala, one of 5 children of the union of the late Robert Lee Hankins and Ollie Mae Thompson Hankins. She grew up in Lamar County, Ala and graduated from Lamar Co. High School. She married the love of her life, Ford Hollis in November l953, a marriage of 39 years until his death on March 13, l998. To this marriage was born three children, Kim, Lance and Tina. “Miss” Virginia spent much of her working life working with the Lee County Library with the last 20 years as the Bookmobile Librarian. She taught so many children, especially in the rural areas, a love of books and reading and kept up with many of them into her later years. She and Ford loved to travel and work together in their plentiful garden while growing day lilies as a hobby. A great cook and the best mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she literally had her family for Sunday lunch for decades until a year ago when her health began to fail. She will long be remembered for her coconut cake and tea cakes. Family was her all and her contributions to their lives will be her legacy of love, caring, kindness and gentleness. She was a longtime member of the Macedonia Baptist Church.
A service celebrating her life will be held at 2 PM Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with her pastor, Bro. Todd Bowen officiating. Private burial will follow in McNeil Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 PM-5 PM Saturday and from 1 PM-service time on Sunday at Holland-Tupelo Chapel. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Live-streaming at 2 PM Sunday. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve their friends.
Virginia is survived by her children Kim Ray (Larry) of Saltillo, Lance Hollis (Teresa Smith) of Saltillo, and Tina Smith (Chris) of Roberta, GA; grandchildren Jolie McCarter (Jay), Sara Ray, Brett Smith (Jennifer), and Jakob Hollis; great-grandchildren, Trey, Callie, Jaycee, Cloe, Lilly Grace, Madison, Serenity, Ava, Chase, and Zachary, and their families.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Ollie Mae Hankins; her husband, Ford Hollis who died in 1998; grandchildren, Seth Hollis, Melissa Ray Smith and Rebecca Smith; great-grandchild Cael Smith; and siblings, Regina, Jo Nina, Herman, and Geraldine.
Pallbearers will be Jakob Hollis, Brett Smith, Trey McCarter, Jay McCarter, Bobby Brown, and Mike Vinson.
