Alice V. Holland

This past week God gave a priceless blessing of time to say good-byes and “I love you” to our mother, Alice Luella VanLandingham Holland, whom he took to his side on Monday, October 27, 2014, at the age of 86. A longtime resident of Clinton, Alice and the love of her life, husband Thomas Grady Holland (deceased), lived and raised eight children, while taking in other children in need of a family. Teaching work ethics and strict manners, and most of all, a rock-solid faith in God were their priorities.

Alice was born in McCool, MS on April 10, 1928 to Mattie Bell Ingram and Milton Edward VanLandingham, Sr. (both deceased). She was a graduate of the class of ’46 at Florence (MS) High School where she played varsity basketball. She was briefly employed with Southern Bell Telephone Company. Alice was a totally devoted mother, housewife and church member at Midway Baptist Church in Jackson, where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, often tended the nursery and was very involved in the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) for decades. If the church doors were open, the family was there. She loved and excelled at flower gardening (had such a green thumb!), sewing, and most of all, cooking. Her pot roast and sourdough bread were simply infamous. Growing and canning vegetables and fruit for her family was one of her passions.

She was also preceded in death by sisters Louise V. McKinley, Helen VanLandingham, Hilda V. Blanton, Wynell Banks, Carolyn Aldridge, and brother, Milton E. (E.J.) VanLandingham, Jr. She is survived by a very large family who love and miss her dearly: daughters Lynda H. Lackey, Sumrall; Brenda Hamilton (Scott), Loxley, AL; Ann Demrow (Greg), Clinton; Regina Dennis (Jeff), Las Cruces, NM; Karen J. Holland, Clinton; and Alison H. Furr; Madison; sons Thomas V. Holland (Debbie), Milton, FL; Samuel Grady Holland, Clinton; grandchildren Kim Richardson (Pepper) and Kirby Lackey of Sumrall; Wesley Hamilton (Megan), Daphne, AL; Thomas Glyn “TG” Holland (Madison), Milton, FL; Michael Holland (Christina), Bonaire, GA; Mattie Jones (Tim), Milton, FL; Ron Demrow (Alana Slaughter, fiancee), Clinton; Elena Dennis, Las Cruces, NM; Joeray “JR” Holland, Clinton; Bryant Furr (Brittany), Madison; Bethany Furr, Madison. Great-grandchildren: Kristin James, Hattiesburg; Nicole Stafford, Sumrall; Jamie Stafford Brunet (Chris), Moselle; Hayleigh, Allison and Leah Hamilton, Daphne, AL; Molly Ann Holland, Milton, FL; Sullivan James Holland, Bonaire, GA; Seth and Eli Jones, Milton, FL; Lacey and Stacey Demrow, Madison; Hayden Holland, Mobile, AL; Tyler Furr, Madison. Great-great-grandchildren: Luka Mattice, Hattiesburg; Tyler and Kiera Brunet, Moselle. Alice is also survived by sisters Dorothy Leahy, Hendersonville, NC; Cornelia Davis (JW), Pearl; and Shirley Davis of Richland, and brother Larry VanLandingham (Mary Ann), Chickamauga, GA.

Our deepest heartfelt thanks go to Alice’s caregivers at Baptist Hospital ICU and Restorative Care (Nicole, Ann, James, Jackie, Jennifer, Rick); she loved you dearly! Also our humble appreciation goes to Dr. Maria Rappai, Dr. Daniel Ramirez, Dr. Ayesha Khalid, and all the others who gave her such wonderful care and are too numerous to mention.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Midway Baptist Church, 5609 Clinton Blvd., Jackson, MS 39209 (601-922-3064) or to your favorite charity. An online guest registry is available at www.lakewoodfuneralhomes.com.