Arvis Cook Holt, of Columbia, Mississippi, died peacefully at The Grove on Friday, February 2, 2024 at the age 101. To many, she was fondly known as Mama Holt. She was born, the youngest of five children, in Attala County, Mississippi to Frances Elizabeth Harvey Cook and Thomas Lafayette Cook. Arvis graduated in 1940 as the Salutatorian from West High School. Her forty-two year banking career began in the bookkeeping department at Lafourche National Bank in Thibodaux, Louisiana, where she retired as a branch manager. After moving to Columbia in 1977, her banking career continued at Citizens Bank. As a teller, Arvis enjoyed her time there and considered them family. She was the oldest living member of East Columbia Baptist Church where she attended for many years. After her retirement, she spent time traveling with family and friends to all fifty states. Arvis was an accomplished seamstress, always ready to create anything her family needed and loved seeing the finished products worn. In her later years, much of her time was spent making jewelry, coloring and doing word search. Up until the last few months, Mama Holt could recite all eighty-two counties of Mississippi, that she learned in fifth grade. In May 2023, Older American Month, Arvis was recognized by Governor Tate Reeves during a ceremony at The Grove.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Doyle Chaplin Holt, her parents and siblings. Arvis is survived by her daughters, Sarah Doylene Holt Kienel and husband Bob, Sylvia Kay Holt McElroy and husband John; grandchildren, Doug McElroy and wife Kim, Jeff Foster, Beth Mock and husband Lee; great-grandchildren, Jonathan McElroy and wife Lacey, Alex Foster, Sam Foster and wife Chelsea, Drew McElroy, Mary Holt Dodd and husband Cameron, and Cannon Mock; great-great-grandchildren, Landry Kay McElroy and Seeley Jane McElroy.
There will be a visitation for Arvis at Colonial Funeral Home on Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 9:30am until 11:30am. The funeral service, officiated by Reverend Darrin Powell and assisted by vocalist, Wesley Lee, will follow at 12:00pm in Woodlawn Cemetery at the graveside. Doug McElroy, Jeff Foster, Lee Mock, Jonathan McElroy, Drew McElroy, Cannon Mock, and Cameron Dodd will serve as pallbearers.
