Janet Marie Wolford Hollis

Every life is a story…..this is a small glimpse into the story of Janet Marie Wolford Hollis …. Sunday June 4, 2023 - with a full moon brightly shining in the night sky - Janet made her sweet journey home to Heaven into the loving arms of Jesus. She had celebrated her 93rd birthday with family that very weekend! What a big smile she must have had when she saw her sweet husband Jim again and her wonderful dog Rocky. Family and friends who really knew her “true to life self” - so enjoyed her. One of her son-in-laws said it perfectly in these words: “ In the 13+ years I knew Jan, she was always her witty, sometimes cantankerous, beautiful and sarcastic self! Quite the charmer!” . She will be missed by her six children, ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and her church friends who enjoyed her hugs and funny stories. As her children, we didn’t realize all that was involved in organizing and loading the six of us into the Country Squire station wagon for a trip to the grocery store, school, sports, scouts or a summer vacation up North to visit with our Pennsylvania relatives! It all just magically happened and in our mom’s organized fashion! She embraced changes in life without hesitation and marched confidently into new adventures, trusting in God. A Pennsylvania born girl (Palmyra PA), Janet was the daughter of Rev. William O. Wolford and Helen Givler Wolford. She grew up in Fogelsville PA with her brothers William (Bill) and Robert (Bob). In 1948 she came South to Catawba College and it was there she met a Southern gentleman - love of her life - James “Doc” Hollis. They married in June 1952 and began their life together, which grew into a family of six children and expanded to grandchildren and great grandchildren. ~ Joel Hollis (Leigh Anna) of Chattanooga,TN ~ Mark Hollis (Judy) of Concord,NC & sons: Tyler Hollis (Amanda) & son Hayes of Charlotte NC Jay Hollis(Brittany} & son James of Tampa FL ~ Julia Moore (Curt) of Lincolnton NC & children: Stuart Moore (Taylor) & daughters Frances and Louise of Nashville TN Caroline Tate (Sam) & daughter Nahla of Raleigh NC Hollis Day (Casey) & daughters Kennedy & Konleigh of Maiden NC ~ Anne Bevier (Ed) of Blowing Rock NC & children: Cole Naylor (Deboni) & son Blaze of Waxahachie TX Andre’ Bevier (Chelsea) of Hayesville, NC Corey Ellison (Jae) & daughter Lily of Anderson NC ~ Lynn Thompson of Charlotte NC & daughters: Taylor Lawson (Jake) of Chattanooga TN Logan Thompson of Charlotte NC ~ Mary McElroy (Mark) of St. Petersburg FL & children: Madison Lott of Tampa FL Sydney Lott of Atlanta GA Lauren McElroy and Christopher McElroy of St. Petersburg. Life with Jim took her and the family from Salisbury NC to Lancaster SC, to Columbia SC, to Elizabethtown/White Lake NC, to Spartanburg SC, to Greensboro NC, then to Chattanooga TN, Etowah TN and then to Midlothian TX. Finally returning to Salisbury in 1995 when Jim was called to pastor a church in Concord NC, and here they spent their golden years together. Early in their lives together, her sweet husband once told her: “Stick with me Jan we’re going places”, and Jim certainly didn’t fail to deliver! From a Girl Scout counselor at Camp Mosey Woods in Pocono Mountains PA to her many years as a school teacher in Rowan County NC and Midlothian TX, children always seemed to fill up her life. Jan welcomed all the friends of her children and always told them, “ make themselves at home” and she meant it! Her hobbies centered around her family, where she raised us to respect and love one another and the Lord. She so enjoyed gardening (weed pulling), sewing, home decorating, antique shopping and so many other fun projects. Jan's love for the Lord was a quiet but powerful testimony to her family and so many others during her lifetime. Her favorite hymns were “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “It Is Well With My Soul”. Several of her favorite scriptures were Psalm 103 (Praise the Lord Oh my Soul) and Phillipians 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me). As her family was telling her goodbye on that moonlit night, the scripture that continued to be shared by us all was Matthew 25:23 - “Well done good and faithful servant”. A life well lived and shared from her heart. Thank you mom, we love you and we will see you and dad again in Heaven. A visitation hour, with Jan”s family, will be held from 11:00-noon on Saturday the 23rd at Franklin Presbyterian Church.

Janet Marie Wolford Hollis

June 3, 1930 - June 4, 2023