Mary Grace Holloway

Thursday, June 4, 2015 - Thursday, October 29, 2015

Mrs. Mary Grace Holloway, of Fadette, Alabama died early Thursday morning, October 29, 2015 at the age of 92. Grace Garrett was born June 4, 1923 in Birmingham, Alabama to James and Floy Glenn Garrett. She was one of seven children. Grace moved with her family to southeast Alabama during the Great Depression. The Garrett family eventually settled on a farm just southeast of Malvern, near Underwood Mill Creek. Grace attended school at Burns School and later, at Slocomb.  She often recounted to her sons that she was quite a tomboy, able to outrun most of the girls and boys around her. Outfielders always had to back up when she was at bat.

In her late teen years, she met Zell Holloway, a young man from the Fadette area. They married on June 12, 1941 on a Saturday afternoon in Slocomb. Grace and Zell were married for more than 64 years until Zell's death in 2005. During their long and loving marriage, they worked together very hard on a small farm just north of Fadette. Many friends recall seeing Zell and Grace " sweeping the yards" together.

Grace was a member of Corinth Baptist Church and had previously served as church secretary. She believed and trusted in God. Throughout her life, Grace was a humble, kind person. Grace and Zell had two sons, Alton and Hugh, whom they raised on the farm in a loving and nurturing home. Grace was an excellent wife, mother and grandmother. She helped on the farm, often working in the fields with Zell, reared animals, and was a fantastic baker and cook. Many neighbors bought her  home-raised milk, butter and eggs. She made lots of delicious cakes and pies with those farm products. Grace always wore a smile and was friendly and courteous to all around her.

She and Zell were blessed with wonderful relatives and neighbors in the Fadette community and beyond. Particularly wonderful friends and neighbors were Betsy and Larry Newton. Grace helped raise their six lovely children. Grace was also blessed to have as her only sister, Christine Nichols. She also enjoyed the love of her four, each-unique sisters-in-law, Zell's sisters and especially, Mrs. Marie Watkins Phillips, who was like another sister to Grace. Grace was very proud of her sons and their wives. Alton, and his wife, Dianne, gave Grace four beautiful granddaughters, Ginive Reeder (Aaron), Amanda Creel (Jason), Brittany Sellers (Dusty), and Millicent Holloway. Hugh and Kathy gave Grace a very beautiful red-headed granddaughter,  Dr. Lauren Holloway Lee ( Stephen). Grace took great pride in her granddaughters and their accomplishments. At the time of her death, she also had seven great grandsons and one great-granddaughter, Mary Grace Creel.

Grace would sometimes reflect, later in life, that she was the longest living of the Garrett siblings, Sam, Robert, Elmer, Don, Morris and Christine. She is survived by additional relatives in the Wiregrass area and in Florida, including Don's widow, Peggy Garrett. Grace overcame major illnesses in her life with the help of her loving husband, family and numerous talented doctors and staff who cared for her. Over her final years, when beset by dementia, she received wonderful care at Signature HealthCare in Graceville, Florida under the direction of Dr. James Clemmons. Her sons greatly appreciate the compassionate care she received from the staff there.  

The family will receive friends at Sorrells Funeral Home & Crematory in Slocomb from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, November 1, 2015.  Funeral services will be held in the chapel at 1:00 p.m., Monday, November 2, 2015. Burial will follow at the Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Resource Center or the Susan Komen Foundation.