Lois Holt

Lois Jones Holt, 88, died peacefully in her sleep on November 9, 2025. She and her 12 siblings, known as preacher’s kids, were born to Reverend R K Jones and Leila Mae Tate Jones. Lois was the last Jones sibling to leave this earth and join the heavenly choir after a life of service to her beloved family, churches, and community.

Her life began in Florala, Alabama in 1936. Moving often as a child, as her Father served Methodist churches, and continuing frequent moves as an adult, alongside her husband, Mark Harrison Holt Sr., Lois’ gifts of friendship and musical talents leave a legacy of love all over the Deep South.

She would say that God’s greatest blessing of her life was her 61-year marriage. Mark’s sister, Beverly Holt, was a high school classmate. At their graduation, Lois sang during the ceremony in Opelika, Alabama. While walking on campus that fall at Auburn University, a tall dark-haired man saw Lois from across the street and called out to her, asking, “Did you sing at my sister’s graduation?” The rest is history.

Five children and a lifetime of church ministry fulfilled Lois’ life. In each city to which Mark’s jobs took the Holt family, the first stop was the local United Methodist Church. Upon the first hymn, Lois’ soprano voice like an angel would be instantly recognized and within months, she would be on staff as the music director, the pianist, or the organist — sometimes all at the same time! Choirs including ages 3 to 100 filled worship services with joy. Lois always had limited music budgets, so she wrote and produced musicals to allow small-town productions to be enjoyed. Having been a home economics major at Auburn, of course she would sew all costumes, then she and Mark would build elaborate sets to create a backdrop to create the most meaningful appreciation of the messages behind the music.

Lois started sponsored memorial anthem programs at each church, using the donated funds to grow the music libraries. She typed labels to place on each copy of the music and spoke of the honored person when presenting that anthem to the choir, and each person was listed in the bulletin as a way of keeping their memory alive. Lois also taught piano lessons at home to help provide more local musicians. When she could no longer play her piano, she gifted it to a beloved piano student so the music would continue.

The final stop for Mark and Lois after six cities was Elba, Alabama. For decades, Lois had carried blueprints for her dream house, and they built it on Seminole Circle in 1976. The dearest neighbors in all the land were hand-in-hand through the lives of the bustling Holt Family, all the way to their beloved empty nest time.

Being outside in her prized yard was Lois’ happy place: pulling weeds, tending to her azaleas, sprigging grass, or chain-sawing dead limbs! No inside or outside job was too much for Lois. In fact, you could also find her pulling over beside the road and loading into her car someone’s discarded furniture that she would later restore to be a treasured antique fit for royalty.

Lois gave selflessly to others. No school or church need was too much for her to pitch in and usually lead. Her five children were deeply loved, clothed and fed by her talents and care. Her proud goal of sending all five to college was met by her personal ability to stretch a dollar and improvise to cover expenses. All her children had the privilege of choosing the lives to which they were called because of the devotion and sacrifices of their parents. We rejoice in the glorious life of Lois and are blessed by the countless people who loved her.

Lois is survived by her daughter Carol Holt (and husband Jeff Foster); son Tom Holt (and wife Elaine, who was a real daughter, much more than daughter-in-law); granddaughter Angela Maeve Foster Hutchins (and husband Grayson Hutchins); granddaughter Leila Claire Foster; grandson William Crawford Jr.; daughter-in-law Nancy Holt; and numerous friends and extended family.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband Mark Harrison Holt Sr; her daughter Martha Holt Coleman and son-in-law Mark Coleman; her son Mark Harrison Holt Jr; and her daughter Angela Holt.

A memorial service will be held at Elba United Methodist church on Friday, November 21, 2025, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and service at 11:00a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the music program at Elba United Methodist Church, or to any place where music is needed.