Wilma Jeannette "Jean" Heptinstall Holifield

Jean Holifield of Laurel went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at the age of 95. Wilma Jeannette (Jean) Heptinstall Holifield, known to everyone as "Jean", was born on July 8, 1929 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was educated in public schools in Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi and attended Jones County Junior College in Ellisville. She was married to Walter Major Holifield of Laurel on March 25, 1955. Soon after, she began a thirty-one year career with the City of Laurel, retiring as Tax Assessor. She served on the Mississippi Economic Development Association's first Key Community Committee, securing "Key Community" status for the City of Laurel. Ms. Holifield served as Vice President for the Greater Laurel Centennial Committee in 1982, and chaired the Centennial Cookbook Committee. She served as President of Women's Ministries of Evangel Temple Assembly of God for more than 23 years, and was honored as "WM of the Year" for Mississippi in 1975. She taught Sunday School for many years at both Evangel Temple, and Kingston Assembly of God in Laurel. She was a Breast Cancer Survivor since 2002, and believed that each person should do their best, as unto the Lord, no matter how small the task. Ms. Holifield served as a member of the YWCA Board of Directors for six years, and two years as President, and she received the prestigious "DIANA" Award, Distinguished International Academy of Noble Achievement by the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Club of Laurel. She was a charter member, and served three terms as President of the Jones County Genealogical and Historical Organization, and was Book Committee Chairperson for Volumes One, Two and Three of Echoes From Our Past, Jones County, Mississippi. She was also an avid quilter and winner of 15 Blue Ribbons for her amazing quilts. Ms. Holifield and her attorney husband, W. Major Holifield, became partners along with her daughter, Debbie Blakeney, and Debbie's husband, Larry Blakeney and his brothers, in a new radio broadcasting company serving the Laurel area in 1985. She became a full-time employee in 1995, and would later serve as business manager, director and Secretary and Treasurer of Blakeney Communications, the parent company of radio stations B95, Rock 104, KZ94-3, 96.5 Alive FM and 97.7 The Groove. Jean Holifield was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Major Holifield; her parents Sanford Samuel Heptinstall and Wilma Garrison Heptinstall; her brothers, Calvin C. Heptinstall, Harrell Thomas Heptinstall, Sanford Heptinstall and Walter David Heptinstall; and her sisters Jannis Carol Baird, Merle Billingsly and Mattie Lee Bright. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Carol Blakeney and her husband, Larry Blakeney of Laurel; and grandchildren Brandon Keith Blakeney of Laurel and Amanda Carol Biever and her husband Jon Biever of Laurel. Funeral services are being held on Saturday, May 31st, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, with visitation at 9:30 AM followed by the service at 11:00 AM, with interment in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Laurel. Pallbearers are Ken Keyes, Robin Jones, Ron Jarvis, Chad Arender, Jimmy Houston and Robert Hill. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com

Wilma Jeannette "Jean" Heptinstall Holifield

July 8, 1929 - May 28, 2025