Betty Bird Holloway, 85, of Eatonton, passed away peacefully at home on October 10, 2024. She was born on May 9, 1939, to Clifford and Josephine (Kirk) Bird, the second of their children. Her older sister, Barbara, passed away as an infant before Betty was born. Raised on a tobacco farm in Greeneville, Tennessee, Betty grew up with her siblings Leon, Nancy, and Allen. She often shared fond memories of her early years, recalling how, as a young girl, she would cook for the family and care for her younger siblings while the rest of the family worked on the farm.
In 1959, Jubral Holloway walked into the Bird household after giving his friend Billy Walker, who was also Betty's cousin, a ride from Georgia to Tennessee. The moment Jubral met Betty, he knew she was the one for him. After a brief courtship, they married and began their life together in Greeneville. Seven years later, they moved to Eatonton, Georgia, to pursue Jubral’s dream of owning a hardware store. Betty joined him in running White’s Auto, which eventually became Holloway’s Ace Hardware, where she managed all the accounting and paperwork for the business. On September 2, 2024, they celebrated 64 years of marriage.
Betty, fondly known as "Memaw" by those closest to her, had an extraordinary talent for cooking. Every dish she prepared quickly became a beloved family favorite. From fried chicken and pot roast to fresh vegetables and sourdough bread (endearingly called "Memaw bread"), her meals were always a hit. No meal was complete without her mouthwatering banana pudding or blackberry cobbler, both of which were staples at Sunday gatherings. Betty always ensured there was enough to share with extended family and friends who frequently dropped by. Her deep and unwavering love for her family made her the heart and soul of their lives.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her two siblings, Barbara and Allen Bird, and her son, Jubral Ward Holloway, III (Ward). She is survived by her devoted husband, Jubral, her daughters, Marsha (David) Lutz of Eatonton and Sandra (Randy) Burton of Jonesboro, GA, her brother Leon Bird of Greeneville, TN and sister Nancy Mitchell (Doyle) of Afton, TN. She also leaves behind five grandchildren: Summer (Graves) Blume of Greensboro, GA, Chelsea (Jimi) Wilson of Eatonton, GA, Denver (Tobias) Kraft of Dallas, TX, Cassidy (Austin) Larson of Atlanta, GA, and Jake Holloway of Atlanta, GA. Additionally, she is survived by seven great-grandchildren, Jaxon Wilson, Isabel Blume, Alex Kraft, Brooks Larson, Parker Larson, Chloe Blume and Tommy Kraft.
A visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Vining Ivy Hill, followed by a Celebration of Life at 3:00 p.m.
