Rev. Marvin Oliver Holladay

Rev. Marvin Oliver Holladay, age 83, of Blackshear, passed away Thursday morning (8/26/21) at Memorial Satilla Health in Waycross following an extended illness. 

Born August 29, 1937 in DeLand, Florida, he was the youngest son of John Benjamin Holladay Sr. and Olivia Amanda Rush Holladay. He graduated from DeLand High School in 1955. He was a veteran, having served in the US Army where he served with the Green Beret. He attended Presidio of Monterey in Monterey, California where he studied language. In his First tour, he served as a chaplain’s assistant in Iceland.  He was also in the 7th Special Forces while he trained to be a paratrooper.  

He attended Stetson University for a year and studied Music. He then attended Piedmont Bible College in Winston Salem, N.C. where he obtained his Bachelors of Religious Education in 1975. In his senior year, he served as the President of the student body.  

He was a Pastor in the Southern Baptist Association for 55 years, being ordained in 1966. He served as Pastor of First Baptist Church Pamona Park, FL, Associate Pastor of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, FL, Pastor of Blake Memorial Baptist Church in Lake Helen, FL, Assistant Pastor of Brentwood Baptist of High Point, N.C., Pastor of Lake Park Baptist Church in Sophia, N.C., Associate Pastor of South Elm Street Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C., Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Kernersville, N.C., Pastor of Daniels Missionary Baptist Church in Daniels, W.V., Pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA, Pastor of Zoar Baptist Church in Baxley, GA, Pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Douglas, GA, and following retirement, served as Interim Pastor of Stokesville Baptist Church in Pearson, GA.   

He has served for six years on the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee and as Chairman of the Pastor’s Committee for the Smyrna Baptist Association.  He was a member of Stokesville Baptist Church in Pearson but was currently attending Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear.   

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by all of his siblings, Joseph Frederick Holladay, Thomas Elmo Holladay, Annie Roberta Kjeldson, Eula Irene Rawlins, John Benjamin Holladay, Jr., Richard Erman Holladay, and William Hartman Holladay. 

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Janice McNeal Holladay of Blackshear; 2 children, Victor Mason Holladay (wife Erin) of Pottstown, PA and Vonda K. Bowling (husband Jeff) of Rowlett, TX; 5 grandchildren, Harrison Bowling, Benjamin Holladay, Mason Bowling, Evan Holladay, and Ryann Olivia Holladay; brother-in-law, Lowell McNeal (wife Caroline) of Toccoa, GA; special “adopted” children and grandchildren, Jamie, Mandy, Mattie, and Landon Lingenfelter of Waycross; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives. 

A funeral service will take place on Sunday (8/29/21) at 2 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Stone officiating. The family will receive friends at the Hart Funeral Home, Blackshear on Sunday from 12-1:30 p.m.   

A graveside service will take place on Monday (8/30/21) at 11 a.m. at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery in Gainesville, GA with Rev. Roy Bainey officiating. 

lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made In Memory of Rev. Marvin Holladay to Southern Baptist Mission Dignity Fund, Guidestone Financial Resources, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Ste. 2200, Dallas, TX 75244-6152 or to the Georgia Baptist Foundation, 6405 Sugarloaf Parkway #200, Duluth, GA 30097.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com and locally at www.wardsfh.com. Ward’s Funeral Home is honored to assist in the arrangements of Rev. Marvin Oliver Holladay.

Ward’s Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Gainesville. “A Family Funeral Home” and Hart Funeral Home Blackshear, GA