Jean Holt

Margaret Jean Holt, 92, of Hoover, AL, passed away on October 20, 2026. She was born February 24, 1934, in Memphis, TN to Margaret Lynch Overmeyer and John Bower Overmeyer. She lived in Birmingham, AL over fifty-years and was an active member of the community.

In 1954 she married the love of her life, John Arthur Holt, whom she remained married to until his death in August 2000. Together they raised seven children. Jean’s primary vocation was caring for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Besides her family, Jean’s Catholic faith was the center of her life. She was an active member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church for more than fifty-years, serving in several ministries, including teaching in the parish school of religion, serving in the Our Lady of Peace Guild, participating in perpetual adoration, volunteering in grief support groups, and others.

Jean graduated from St. Aloysius School in Meridian, MS in 1952, and obtained an associate’s degree from Meridian Junior College in 1954. She worked for more than 15 years at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, first in the Chemistry Department and then in the School of Engineering. After retiring from UAB in 2000, she served as a teacher’s aide at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Homewood for nine years.

Jean is survived by her children, Claire Travis Muir (Loring), Mike Holt (Mary), Jenifer Tarrant, Jim Holt (Kelly), Bryan Holt (Lynn), Julie Christopher (Stephen) and Ted Holt (Shannon); her brother Bob Overmeyer of Mobile, Alabama (Gracie); 16 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, John, her brother Jack Overmeyer of Tyler, Texas, her son-in-law, Jeffrey Hunter Travis, and her grandson, Jason Hunter Travis.

The family would like to thank Jean’s caregivers over the last 18 months, especially those with Amedisys Hospice, and Shawoner Coates, Yvonne Johnson, and DeShon Fortner. Your care, compassion, patience, and ever-present love gave Jean strength, hope, and comfort.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 1728 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209, on October 30, 2026, at 1 PM CDT. The mass will be live streamed at https://ourladyofsorrows.com/live-stream. The family will receive visitors at the church before mass, starting at 12 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Seminarian Education Fund, Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, John Carroll Catholic Educational Foundation, or Comunita Cenacolo America.

Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel and Cremation Service (205-879-3401) in Homewood.