Willodeen Hollingsworth
Posted: October 14, 2015
Willodeen Ellis Hollingsworth passed away Saturday morning, October 10, 2015, at the Long Term Care Facility in Fayette, Alabama. Celebration of her life will be held at Beersheba Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Thursday, October 15, 2015. Viewing will begin at 10 am with services following at 11 am with Rev. Charlie Studdard and Rev. Clyde Stevens officiating. Burial will follow at the Beersheba Cumberland Presbyterian Church cemetery adjacent to the church with Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS directing. “Tootsie” to her friends, Mrs. Hollingsworth was born December 22, 1921 in Lamar County, Alabama to William Lytle and Marie Dowdle Ellis. She lived her entire life within a 50 mile radius of her birthplace, in Lamar County, Alabama, except when she traveled with her husband to various bases during WWII. Over the course of her life, she worked at the first Woolworth’s store in Columbus, MS, the Chancery Clerks Office in Lowndes County, MS, the Columbus and Greenville Railroads for 12.5 years, the Pickens County Circuit Clerks Office in Carrollton, AL, and side by side with her husband, Woodrow L. Hollingsworth, at the Western Auto Store in Reform, Alabama. Mrs. Hollingsworth taught Training Union at the First Baptist Church of Reform for over 10 years. She was a member of the DAR and Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star Chapter in Reform, Alabama. Mrs. Hollingsworth attended the Mississippi College for Women (MUW) for two years, during which time she also worked for the Registrar’s office. This past August, she was the oldest living Ellis at the annual Ellis reunion where over 200 relatives gathered from all over the world to celebrate. She is survived by her three children-Carolyn Junkin, Birmingham, Alabama, John (Linda) Hollingsworth, Mendenhall, MS, Pat (Bill) Tweddle, Cody, Wyoming. Eight Grandchildren-Clay (Shelley) Junkin, Sam (August) Junkin, Matt (Lacie) Junkin, John (Jennifer) Junkin, Julyn (Henry) Cooper, John (Glenda) Hollingsworth, Jr., Crystal Tweddle and Trey Tweddle, along with 11 great grandchildren-Mallory, Seth, Jacie Jo, Trace, Laura Grace, John Thomas, Rhett, Micah, Tenley, Brady and Jaxson all called her Granny, her brother, Selwyn H. Ellis (Donna) and several nieces and nephews. Being an Ellis, there are more cousins than could be named here. She is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years-Woodrow Lee “Woody” Hollingsworth, her mother and father-William Lytle and Marie Dowdle Ellis, a brother-William Lytle “Dugan” Ellis, and Lula Lorene Ellis Allen. “Willie” or “Tootsie” to her friends was an avid reader with a complete collection of her personal favorites, Louis La’more and first editions of Zane Grey. She loved Matlock, Bonanza, Perry Mason, and Walker, Texas Ranger. Tootsie was a very spiritual woman and never met a stranger calling everyone she met “Dahlin!”. She always had a copy of Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling by her side. She read from it every day to everyone who came within the sound of her voice. Pallbearers will be Clay Junkin, Sam Junkin, Matt Junkin, John Junkin, John Hollingsworth, Jr., Trey Tweddle, Julyn Cooper and Crystal Tweddle. Honorary Pallbearers will be Shelley Junkin, August Junkin, Lacie Junkin, Jennifer Junkin, Henry Cooper, Beth Kindrick, Bill Tweddle, Linda Hollingsworth and Glenda Hollingsworth. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Trinity Independent Living Facility, Morningside of Fayette, Fayette Long Term Care Facility, Lenore Johnson and Jeweleen Smith who were so loving and caring with Tootsie. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, any donations be made to the Fayette Memorial Library, 326 Temple Ave. N., Fayette, AL 35555, and the Ruth Holliman Library, 287 S Main Street, Gordo, AL, or the church or elementary school library of your choice.
