Ms. Phyllis Juanita Holloway

Phyllis Juanita Holloway was born to Philip and Mittie Louise Stephens in Chicago, Illinois on April 19, 1945. She was the 15th of 19 children. She attended George Washington Carver High School where she enjoyed classes such as English, History, and Algebra. On July 8, 1964, Phyllis married John P. Holloway, Sr. While together, they had seven children. In 1995, she added three bonus children. On August 5, 1966, in Dallas, TX, she symbolized her dedication to Jehovah by water baptism. She spent many years actively preaching and teaching friends, family, and neighbors about our heavenly Father and his hope for all mankind. She joined the pioneer ranks in 1984, and for two years afterward spent many of her days in the full time ministry in obedience to Jesus’ command at Matthew 28:19, 20, which reads: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” While, because of human imperfection, she had many struggles in her life, she firmly believed that Jehovah’s Kingdom, with his Son, Jesus Christ, was the only solution for her problems and those of everyone else. She looked forward to living a perfect life in that Kingdom. Those closest to her knew that she had a keen sense of adventure, something she passed on to all of her children. While her children were young, she packed them up in the station wagon and took them on road trips to visit places like Canadian Bethel, Kings Island, Walt Disney World and Cedar Point. She would also pile them and a few of their friends in that same station wagon and drive to Great America almost every year. Some of the younger ones were even privileged to enjoy Caribbean cruises. In November 1994, she and some of her sisters enjoyed what she considered to be the trip of a lifetime to two of the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu and Maui. While on this tour, she took several tours, even getting up at 3:00 a.m. one morning to ride a bike down the side of a volcano. (She was a bit of a daredevil.) She also was known for her hospitality and generosity. Many of her friends enjoyed time spent with her and her family watching movies on Saturday evenings, or Sunday dinners with her favorite foods. And who could forget the puppet show and children’s parties she threw in her basement or trips to the zoos and museums. Phyllis’ life in this system of things ended when she fell asleep in death on Monday, May 9, 2022. She will be missed until she joins many family members and friends in the resurrection into the new world, where she will have the hope of what she spent so many years preaching and teaching others about: living forever in Paradise. (Psalm 37:29) She was preceded in death by her parents, Philip and Mittie; by 14 of her siblings: William, Lewis, Robert, Travis, Malvin, Donald, Carroll, Joseph, Roosevelt, Mary, John, Ashton, Ardee, and Richard; and by one daughter, Tara. She leaves behind a blended family of 9 children: John (Alejandra), Jason, Sam (Rebecca), Jennifer, Philip (Carolyn), Sophia, Matthew, Demitrius, and Kisha; two beloved step-children: Joanna and Stephen Holloway; 13 grandchildren: Jason, Jr. (Nicole), Loren, Johndavid, Chance, Calista, Abigail, Jesemin, Devynn, Jakob, Isabel, Jameson, Quawi, and Keanu; 9 great grandchildren: Haley, Tatum, Jason III, Jada, Gabriel, Ashton, Landon, Jaxon, and Aribeth; three siblings: Mittie, Crystal, and Lamont (Paula); and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Ms. Phyllis Juanita Holloway

April 19, 1945 - May 9, 2022