Thomas Joshua Holifield

Thomas Joshua Holifield, 87, of Laurel, died Wednesday, October 06, 2010 at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel. Funeral services will be held at 11 am Saturday, October 9, 2010 at Memory Chapel with burial in Lake Park Hills Cemetery. Dr. Randall Turner and Dr. Charles Stone will officiate. He was a graduate of Laurel High School where he participated in football, basketball, track, and the high school play. He attended Jones County Junior College, and was an organizer and graduate of Laurel School of Law. He was a previous member of the Mississippi State Bar and American Bar Association, U. S. District Court for Southern District, U. S. Court of Appeals for Third Circuit in New Orleans, specialized in Oil and Gas Law in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, and was a member of several organizations in connection with the oil industry. He was past president of Laurel Kiwanis Club, member of Laurel County Club where he was an avid golfer, and also served with the U. S. Marines in World War II and played football for the Marines in San Diego and Honolulu, Hawaii. A member of First Baptist Church of Laurel since 1957, he served as deacon, Sunday school superintendent, and teacher. He taught the Sanctuary Bible Class for approximately 14 years. He also organized the Friday Morning Men’s Prayer Group in 1969 and served as its president for approximately 41 years. He also helped in the construction and operation of Houston Road Baptist Church for two years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Melba Dunagin Holifield. He leaves two daughters, Karen Holifield and Sherryl Holifield Stone and her husband Dr. Charles Stone; three grandchildren, Heather Stone Anderson, Joshua Stone, and Tiffany Stone; one brother, Major Holifield and his wife Jean; three sisters, Marie West and her husband Doug, Clarice Yelverton, and Doris Wilson and her husband Rex, and a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Norris Wallace, Charles Boone, Don Stephenson, Jim Parrish, Frank Holifield, Bobby Stevens, and Don Swanberg. A special thanks to the caregivers, Mechelle Collins, Marilyn Manning, Gloria Hunt, Linda Parker, Anita Sullivan, Dianne Cockrell, Brenda Livingston, Susan McDaniel and Rickey Nicholson, and also to the staff at Deaconess Home Health, Linda Pittman, Darlene Holifield and Kyle Crager. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Honduras Dental Mission at First Baptist Church of Laurel. Visitation will be held from 9 am until the time of service on Saturday at Memory Chapel of Laurel which is in charge of the arrangements.

Thomas Joshua Holifield

March 28, 1923 - October 6, 2010