Mary Hollis

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Mary Winifred Nall Hollis, born Sept. 2, 1925 in Troy, Ala. died Saturday, March 7, 2009 in Fairhope, Ala.. A philanthropist by nature, enjoyed being of service, and worked with many people, charities and organizations in Alabama. She devoted her time to her family’s care, and assisted her husband, Joe Frost Hollis in his banking career until his death in 2000. She visited her daughter, Merrill de Mora (deceased) and son-in-law, Argel Mora in Venezuela. She would have her grandson, Argel Enrique Mora, live with her and Joe in Arab, Alabama for half of each year in the 1980s and 1990s. she cared for her mother, Lucy Trotman Nall (deceased) with her sister, Glennie Trotman Nall Barnard and nephew Jeffrey Nall Barnard of Arab, Ala. John “Bubba” Trotman, her first cousin from Troy and Montgomery, Ala. shared many wonderful moments together. Among other family in the Mobile area with whom she was a close friend are her sister-in-law, Mary Edna Foster; Baba Hendricks, David Head, Alyson Jackson and Emily Jones. She was invaluable in public relations for her son Fred Nall Hollis in his artistic career in the USA and Europe and was a contributor and supporter of the Nall Foundation. Mary lived with a zeal for life, adoring many friends, caring for the sick as a volunteer nurse, and spent many hours at the bridge table sharpening her mathematical skills. She loved gardening, quilting, cooking meeting new and old friends, entertaining and travel.
She spent her last years at Homestead Village and Oakland Place Alzheimer’s Clinic in Fairhope, and made many friends there.
She was formerly of Troy, Huntsville, Arab and Birmingham, Ala. and Melbourne, Fla. Other survivors include her brothers-in-law, Robert Hollis, John W. Hollis, Thomas Gerald Hollis and Dr. Morris Hollis; niece, Bonnie Barnard McAleer and nephews, Tony Barnard and Glenn Barnard. A celebration of the life of Mary Nall Hollis will be held at 204 North Bayview Street, Fairhope, Alabama, USA at 4 PM on Saturday, March 14, 2009. Email Nall at nall@nallart.com. In lieu of flowers, Mary requested that donations be made to the Nall Foundation, P. O. Box 1343, Fairhope, AL 36533, USA, which supports young Alabama artists. Cremation arrangements are by Hughes Cremation &Funeral Service, Daphne, Alabama, www.hughescremationcenter.com.