Opal Willadeane Holloway

Deane was born in Aberdeen, MS on May 3, 1928. On the afternoon of March 10, 2O2O, she was welcomed Home, into the loving arms of her personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her wonderful parents, Grover and Dessie Russell, only had one daughter, but she was never alone, as her parents also raised an additional eight brothers. Their names were: Delbridge; Eldridge; Mack; Cecil; Billy; Dan; Donald; and, Lee. Although it was totally unexpected, Deane was the last surviving member of this Russell generation. Deane graduated Brooksville High School in Mississippi, and enrolled in Draughn's Business School in Memphis, TN, shortly thereafter. Upon graduation, she began employment at Lowenstein's Department Store, in Memphis. Her first job was Secretary and Personal Assistant to the President, as well as several Buyers for the Fashion and Clothing Departments at Lowenstein's. Upon the recommendation of Lowenstein's President, she began specialty training and instruction as a Buyer. However, after falling in love and marrying her husband, James R. Holloway, these plans had to change. Jim had received a job offer as an accountant at an engineering business in Pensacola, FL, and the family had to relocate. Although it was somewhat discouraging to resign her position at Lowenstein's, she was able to obtain an excellent job at Fisher-Brown lnsurance Agency in Pensacola. She received outstanding evaluations, as well as excellent training from Hunter Brown and Dave Johnson. Over the next several years, numerous insurance professionals in Pensacola continued to instruct and tutor Deane in all aspects of the insurance industry, including Sig Sugarman, Curtis Kingsbury, and Charles York while employed at Sugarman-Kingsbury lnsurance Agency, as well as Sam and Jim Armour at Armour lnsurance Agency. After much deliberation and prayer, she decided to open her own independent insurance agency, Holloway lnsurance Agency, 103 Beverly Parkway, Pensacola, FL. Her 53rd birthday was very exciting, as May 3, 1981, was the day she founded her own business. More exciting, was the fact that she was the first female in Escambia County and Pensacola to accomplish this. After several successful years, and at the age of 79, she finally retired from the insurance profession in 2007. Deane was well respected by all of her peers in the insurance field, and she established remarkable standards for others to follow. During her active years, she was very involved with the lndependent lnsurance Agents Association. Her customers always paid her the highest respect and appreciation for everything she did for them, as well as many others. Deane was a Charter Member of Bethel Assembly of God Church, which was founded by her father-in-law, Reverend John W. Holloway. During her attendance at this church, she served several years as Secretary and Treasurer for Bethel. She was also active at several other churches in the Pensacola community including Brent Assembly, Ferry Pass Assembly, and Brentwood Assembly. Deane and Jim had two sons. Mike Holloway (Judy), Cantonment, FL and John Holloway (Cathy), Wing AL. Her grandchildren are Michelle Gerardi, Cantonment, FL and Michael Holloway (Danielle), Landstuhl, Germany, Shawn Flory (Jason), Molino, FL and Matthew Holloway (Marcy), Pensacola, FL. Deane's great grandchildren are Hayden and Hannah Gerardi; Hunter, Holden, and Hudson Holloway; Piper, Paige, and Grant Flory; and, Ella Holloway. Her funeral service will be conducted at First Assembly of God Church, located at 12th Avenue and Bayou Boulevard, at 11-:00 AM on Saturday March 14th. Her visitation by friends and family will be at 10:00 the same morning, with her burial to be held at Bayview Cemetery on Scenic Highway, at the conclusion of her funeral. Reverend David Scruggs will be officiating, and Martin Tate will be the pianist. Her active Pallbearers will be Matthew Holloway, Hayden Gerardi, Rusty Russell, Keith Holloway, Gary Russell, David Russell, Scott Russell, and Dr. William Blaylock. The family would like to express appreciation to the employees at Sabal House, as well as the employees at Covenant Hospice, for all that they did during our Motherrs last couple years of her life, especially, the final three weeks of her life. We would also like to express our appreciation to Glenda Gainey, and especially Etta Carter. Both of these ladies were outstanding friends to our Mother for most of her life in Pensacola, FL. Thanks for everything you did for our Mother. Thanks to Tommie Davis and Ann Hamilton for being Mother's friend during the most recent years of her life. lt's wonderful to know that you have been reunited with another outstanding friend, Vivian Winslow. Finally, Deane Holloway was an outstanding, incredible, and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend. You truly will be missed so much by all of your friends and family, but we know that we will see you again in Heaven. What a wonderful promise, found in our Bible, and made by Jesus Christ Himself !

Tributes

Opal Willadeane Holloway

May 3, 1928 - March 10, 2020