Mildred Hollis

Published 11:27 am Thursday, June 19, 2014

Mrs. Mildred “Peggy” Hollis died Wednesday June 18, 2014, at Promise Hospital. She was 91.

Born in Shellman, Ga., Mrs. Hollis had lived in Vicksburg since 1946. A graduate of Emory University in Atlanta with a degree in nursing, she served as a U.S. Public Health Service cadet nurse and later served in World War II as an active duty Army Corps registered nurse, receiving American Campaign and WWII Victory Medals.

Upon moving to Vicksburg as a newlywed, she worked first as a nurse on the polio ward of Vicksburg Infirmary, and was recruited to work at Vicksburg First Baptist Church, where she was the financial and church secretary for 45 years while serving on the church’s executive committee.

She was an international tour director with Travel Services International in Jackson for over 15 years, and had led tours of six of the world’s seven continents. She was a longtime active member of Vicksburg Baptist Church, as was her husband, Walter E. Hollis, who preceded her in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Peggy Janice (Jann) Masterson and husband William of Belvoir, Va., and Mary Ann Hollis of Alexandria, Va.; and nieces and nephews. She leaves behind two especially close, longtime, faithful and devoted friends, Annabelle Crowther and Karla Creighton of Vicksburg.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, June 20, 2014, at Glenwood Funeral Home with burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the hour of the service.

Pallbearers will be Tom Hill, Charlie Caldwell, Durwood Tadlock, Randy Oswalt, David Haworth, Fred Baldwin, and David Baldwin.

Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Vicksburg First Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to the John McCall Scholarship Fund at Vicksburg First Baptist Church, to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, or to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Promise Hospital, Heritage House Retirement Center, and her private health care aides for ensuring her comfort during her illness.