Mary Elaine Hollifield Speed

Mary Elaine Hollifield Speed, age 72 of Clayton, Georgia, passed away suddenly August 1, 2015. She was the daughter of Edgar Talmadge (deceased) and Alene Brown Hollifield.  She was a sister to Gail Hollifield Beck and Sandra Hollifield Matheson both living and she was preceeded in death by her sister Peggy Hollifield Darnell.

Elaine “Lane” was a graduate of Rabun County High School. She attended North Georgia Technical School and was employed for many years in the health field, working for many local doctors and in the Rabun County Health Department. She was employed by Burlington Industries and later Sara Lee Knit Products. She owned and operated a successful home cleaning business for many years as well.

Elaine first married Gordon Hopper and raised three children, Wesley Hopper (wife Dorothy), Dawn Hopper James (husband Doug) and Richard Hopper.

Years later she married Hoyt Speed and gained two step-daughters Patty Speed Cobb (husband Larry) and Tracy Speed McCoy (husband David). Lane was survived by all of her children. She was preceeded in death by her husband Hoyt.

She had a genuine love for children and took great pride in her nine grandchildren: Elaine was preceeded in death by one grandson Caleb Welch and was survived by these eight, DeAnne Hopper Gragg (husband Timothy), Dellon James, James McCoy, Sunshine McCoy, Corey Aughtman, Nikki Holden McCall (husband Justin), Brandon Holden, and Luke McCoy. She taught them how to use their imaginations to go to faraway places, she invested her time in them and loved them as only a “Nanny” could.

Then came the great-grands who brought more joy than Elaine could have ever imagined. She had Colton and Ava Gragg, Jacie and Kynzlee McCall and Briana Holden. One great-grandson, Gunner McCall was waiting for her in heaven. Elaine loved all of the children in her life including many nieces and nephews. She spent years helping with church and bible school programs as well.

Elaine loved to camp with family and friends, she enjoyed nothing more than growing flowers of many varieties. She found digging and planting therapeutic and was proud of her garden and home. She was a hard worker and a dedicated friend. A care-giver by nature, she settled into that profession later in life and grew very fond of those she cared for.

Elaine will be greatly missed and her family welcomes you to join them in a celebration of her life at Beck Funeral Home where they will receive friends and family August 2^nd from 5-7 PM. Her funeral service will be held in the chapel at Beck Funeral Home on Monday August 3^rd at 11 AM, with burial to follow at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church on Warwoman Road, in Clayton, Georgia.

In leiu of flowers the family encourages donations to Richard's Kids (47 Deer Hill Rd, Clayton, GA 30525) or Sid Weber Memorial Cancer Fund (P.O. Box 485 in Rabun Gap, GA 30568).

Beck Funeral Home, in Clayton, Georgia, is in charge of the arrangements. If there are any questions, please call 706-782-9599. An online Memorial Register Book is available at www.beckfuneralhome.com.