Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo

Clinton Lamar Hester, a great ole soul, transformed to his eternal home on April 15, 2024, after spending his last couple years at Rosewood Retirement Home. Clinton was the only child born in Pontotoc Co. on December 9, 1938 to the late Earl Thomas Hester and Mildred Copeland Hester Christian. A patriotic American, Soldier Hester served in the U. S. Army in peacetime between the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. He married Jimmie Lou Chism on Sept. 5, 1958, a marriage of 58 years until her death on Aug. 6, 2017. Clinton spent his life as a truck driver with over 30 years working for Super Sagless in Tupelo. Clinton was a longtime member of the Palmetto Baptist Church where he served...

TUPELO -- Jimmy Jackson , 73, passed away Sunday, Apr 14, 2024, in Tupelo. at his residence Services will be at 2 PM Friday, April 19, 2024 at Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo Visitation will be at the funeral home from 12 PM to service time on Friday.

Edwin Mark Plunkett was born in Tupelo on Sept. 11, 1968 to the late Wade and Joyce Roye Plunkett. Always with Stetson on, a smile on his face, pleasant in his decorum with a big ole heart larger than his hayfields, Mark Plunkett worked the fields for the last time and departed this life on Friday, April 12, 2024 from NMMC after a brief illness. Mark attended the Okolona Public Schools and graduated from Okolona High School in 1986. He attended and graduated from Nashville Diesel Mechanic School. He worked three months in his new trade but returned to the land from whence he came. From his family's heritage, he grew up loving the land and its produce, running cattle and bailing hay. An...

Melvin T. Ford III passed away peacefully in his home on April 11, 2024, holding his wife's hand. Melvin battled a chronic lung disease for many years. Moments before he passed, Melvin said that the best thing that ever happened to him was Christy. They loved each other like none other; "I love you," wasn't good enough for them, and they created their own way to express their feelings to each other. Every phone call, every goodbye, and thousands of other times in between, Christy and Melvin would say "Red Hat Road" to each other. Melvin was born in Versailles, KY on June 8, 1956. He moved to Columbus, MS in 1962 and graduated from Caldwell High School with the Class of '74. In 1977, he...

TUPELO -- Melvin T. Ford, III , 67, passed away Thursday, Apr 11, 2024, in Tupelo. at his residence Services will be at 2 PM Monday, April 15, 2024 at Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo Visitation will be at the funeral home from 2 PM - 4 PM on Sunday, April 14, 2024, and again from 12 PM to service time on Monday.

DUNDEE, MI / TUPELO, MS Alice Stasko ,90, died April 09, 2024, at her daughter's residence in Dundee, MI. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo.

Hazel Virginia Rea Stovall was the matriarch of the Stovall family since her marriage on January 13, 1959 to the late Richard Maier Stovall, Sr. The Stovall family were pioneers in the life and progress of the Okolona area since the Civil War. They farm large acreages and raise cattle on Stovall Farms to this day. Hazel was an integral part of the family business alongside her husband. It was a dynamic family partnership in every way. Mrs. Stovall passed peacefully in Oxford on Monday, April 8, 2024, with her watchful and loving family around her. She was born on January 13, 1938, in Monroe County, MS to the later Ruble Chastain Rea, Sr. and Vedie Lee Wardlaw Rea Robertson. Hazel graduated...

OKOLONA / OXFORD -- Hazel Stovall , 86, passed away Monday, Apr 08, 2024, in Oxford. at her daughter's residence Services will be at 11:30 AM Friday, April 12, 2024 at Okolona Presbyterian Church Visitation will be at the church from 10:30 AM to service time.

TUPELO Tommy Lewis ,70, died April 08, 2024, at North MS Medical Center in Tupelo. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo.

Dr. William Lucian "Bill" Wood, Jr. departed this life for his life in eternity from his Tupelo residence on Sunday evening, April 7, 2024, after a lingering illness. Doc was 85 years old. Born in Memphis, TN, on Aug. 17, 1938, to the late Lucian Wood, Sr. and Florence Patton Wood, the family relocated to Tupelo when Bill was four years old. Bill received his education from the Tupelo Public School system graduating from Tupelo High in 1956. He received his BS degree in pre-med from Vanderbilt University and received his medical education from University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis. Smart and studious, Doc completed his internship St. Thomas Medical Center in Nashville and...

TUPELO -- Dr. William 'Bill' Wood , 85, passed away Sunday, Apr 07, 2024, in Tupelo. at his residence Services will be at 1 PM Thursday, April 11, 2024 at The Orchard in Tupelo Visitation will be at the church from 11 AM to service time.

TUPELO Mary Belk Dehart ,73, died April 06, 2024, at her daughter's residence in Okolona. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo.

Billie Bernice Mills-Hale, 89, longtime Auburn Community resident, died at her daughter's home in Selmer, TN, April 4, 2024 at 7:30PM, surrounded by her family. Billie was born on July 11, 1934 in Lee County to the late Owen Mills and Madie Garrett-Mills. She was involved in basketball and softball at Auburn school and obtained her GED later in life. She was a military spouse, supporting her husband June during his 22 years in the Army, while stationed at numerous military bases in the USA and Germany. Billie was always active in her communities, wherever she lived, and was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ, most recently at Eggville Church of Christ. She spent many summers at the...

MANTACHIE -- Brittany "CoCo" Townsend , 37, passed away Wednesday, Apr 03, 2024, in Mantachie. at her residence Services will be at 3PM Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel Visitation will be at 2PM - service time Sunday only Holland Tupelo Chapel .

Pamela L. Moody, 70, died Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at NMMC-Hospice unit. Pamela was born in Santa Barbara, CA on November 14, 1953 to the late Clarence Moertimer and Patricia Radcliffe Ritchey. Pamela grew up in Santa Barbara and was raised by her mother and Earnest Irwin Ritchey. She later moved to Tucson, AZ and then to Columbia, MO. In Columbia she received her nursing degree and began a long career caring for the sick and injured. She moved to Tupelo in 1995 and went to work for North Mississippi Medical Center. She loved her work as a nurse and caring for people. Pamela was an amazing woman who loved her children and her dogs. Pamela's family will hold a private Celebration of Life at a...

Mary Sue Gann, one of Chickasaw Counties most colorful citizens, laid down her earthly mantle and crossed the chilling waters of Jordan to meet her Savior and reunite with her loved ones gone before. Sue died at North Miss. Medical Center on Friday, March 29, 2024, after struggling with kidney failure. She was 84 years old. Born in Chickasaw Co on Sept 18, 1939 to the late Edwin Davis and Millie Whitt Davis Lucius, she lived most all her life in the country near Houlka. On April 13, 1957, she married the love of her life, Walter Evans Gann, in Okolona. He died on Jan 23, 1990. Her first work was that of a master beautician, making friends with folks all over Chickasaw County. Her...

Lee Jackson Boyles, Jr. departed this life at 2:30 AM Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Shearer-Richardson Nursing Home in Okolona, where he had resided the last 2 years. He was 72 years old. Lee was born in Amory on July 3, 1951, the son of the late Lee Jackson Boyles, Sr. and Frances Louise Moorman Boyles Sanders. He grew up in Amory, graduated from Amory High School in l969 and attended Mississippi College in Clinton. In l974, he moved to Chickasaw County where he remained until his death. Lee decided to become a barber and graduated from Jackson Barber School. He worked with Mr. Taylor Buskirk in his shop in Okolona and, at Mr. Buskirk's death, purchased the business. Lee grew up...

Lee Jackson Boyles, Jr. departed this life at 2:30 AM Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at Shearer-Richardson Nursing Home in Okolona, where he had resided the last 2 years. He was 72 years old. Lee was born in Amory on July 3, 1951, the son of the late Lee Jackson Boyles, Sr. and Frances Louise Moorman Boyles Sanders. He grew up in Amory, graduated from Amory High School in l969 and attended Mississippi College in Clinton. In l974, he moved to Chickasaw County where he remained until his death. Lee decided to become a barber and graduated from Jackson Barber School. He worked with Mr. Taylor Buskirk in his shop in Okolona and, at Mr. Buskirk's death, purchased the business. Lee grew up...

Janie Sue Edwards Waldrip was born in Pontotoc Co. on Jan. 9, 1941 to the late James Rudolph Edwards and Gara Pearl Corder Edwards. After a long fruitful life of serving God, her family, her church and community, Janie realized the promises of her faith and met her Creator on March 23, 2024 from NMMC Hospice Unit. She was 83 years old. Janie was a star graduate of Pontotoc High School in 1958, where she was twice voted as Most Beautiful. Born with a love of learning, Janie entered MSCW graduating with a degree in Elementary Education in only three years. Completely devoted to learning, she attended Ole Miss in the summers for extra credit. She began her teaching career in Memphis at the...

Janie Sue Edwards Waldrip was born in Pontotoc Co. on Jan. 9, 1941 to the late James Rudolph Edwards and Gara Pearl Corder Edwards. After a long fruitful life of serving God, her family, her church and community, Janie realized the promises of her faith and met her Creator on March 23, 2024 from NMMC Hospice Unit. She was 83 years old. Janie was a star graduate of Pontotoc High School in 1958, where she was twice voted as Most Beautiful. Born with a love of learning, Janie entered MSCW graduating with a degree in Elementary Education in only 3 years. Completely devoted to learning, she attended Ole Miss in the summers for extra credit. She began her teaching career in Memphis at the age...

Roger Dale Cooley, 72, departed this life on Saturday, March 23, 2024 from the North MS Medical Center after an extended illness. Roger was born in Tupelo, Lee County, on January 29, 1952, the son of the late Charles C. Cooley and Wilma Ruth Donald, who survives. Roger lived most of his life in the Nettelton-Dorsey area. He graduated from Nettleton High School in 1970 and began a lifelong career as a sewing machine mechanic for Reed's Manufacturing and Action/Lane Furniture where his unique skills were in high demand. Roger loved his farm northeast of Nettleton where he raised livestock and was a great steward of the land, especially enjoying bushhogging. He loved his John Deere tractors and...