Mary Geneva Hollenshead

Mary Geneva Hollenshead was born on May 28, 1935, and received her invitation to Heaven on May 23, 2023, joining her loved ones who have preceded her in death, while leaving behind a legacy of love filled with memories to be cherished by family and friends that remain. Mary Geneva was best known by family and friends as “Nana” or “Aunt Geneva.”

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, and her love, Bobby Ray Hollenshead, her beloved son, Michael Ray Hollenshead, and her granddaughter, Shanda Acklen. To cherish her memories, Nana leaves behind her daughters Marilyn Jernigan (Larry) and Cindy Hollenshead, grandchildren, Wendi Wood (Ben), Kimberly Binder (Roman), John Michael Acklen (Amy), and Kevin Jernigan (Dani) and 16 great-grandchildren.

Nana grew up in the Harris community in Minden, Louisiana. She was the daughter of Dewey Andrews and Emma Lettie Frye. She was the youngest of 4 siblings. When she was 16 years old, she capitvated the eye of Bobby Ray Hollenshead. They were soon wed and had three children that kept them on their toes. They were proud of all their children and grandchildren. 

She was proud to be a Hollenshead and spent many a day picking and shelling peas on the front porch of granddaddy and grandma’s house. She enjoyed spending time at family reunions and hanging out and cooking in the kitchen with Aunt Virginia, visiting with Uncle Jack and Aunt Dorothy at their gas station, getting her hair cut and styled by Karen and Debra, drinking coffee with Sharon and Henry or wondering what shenanigans Mike and Bill Jr were up too.

[Nana was a caregiver most of her life, starting at an early age caring for her ill father, then tasked with caring for her mother in her elder years. Shortly after marriage, she began keeping kids in her home and worked as a caregiver in the nursery at FBC of Homer. Nana opened her heart and home to many children throughout her lifetime and cared for them as they were her own. She raised her children and grandchildren to be loyal, honest, kind, and work hard. 

Nana and Papaw were members of the Ruple Baptist Church. She was active in attendance until she physically was unable to participate. Even after she moved away, she often asked what was going on in the church. She loved Jesus and taught us all to love, forgive and “be nice.”

After the loss of Papaw, she was cared for by her two daughters, Marilyn and Cindy. She moved away from the Hollenshead home in Ruple to Minden to live with her daughter and son-in law, Marilyn and Larry. She was greeted daily with hugs and kisses from her great grandchildren. She watched endless of hours of western shows and Fox News with Larry. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles to stimulate her mind. Each visit by family and friends brightened her day and made her feel special. She especially enjoyed phone calls and visits from her nieces, nephews, grandchildren and family friends.  

She lived a good life. She lived simply… She worked hard and loved hard. She was faithful to her god, her husband and her family. She loved us each “a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.” 

The family would like to express gratitude for the care given to their beloved mother and grandmother by the numerous medical professionals who cared for her this past year, including St. Joseph’s Hospice. They also would like to thank friends and family, Pastor Randy Hales, the Lebanon Church & Cemetery, the Ruple Baptist Church Family, and Rose-neath Funeral Home Services for their kindness and ministry to the family during this time of grief. 

The Memorial Service will be held at Lebanon Church in Haynesville, Louisiana at 10 am on May 27, 2023. The visitation will take place at 9 am. 

The funeral service will be directed by Rose-neath Funeral Homes and officiated by Pastor Randy Hales.

Pallbearers:

Danny Milam

Jeremy Foreman

Robin Bridges

Bill Hollenshead, Jr.

Danny Ford

Ken Karl

Honorary Pallbearers:

Larry Jernigan 

John Michael Acklen

Kevin Jernigan

Kaleb Koehler

Diego Wood

Elijah Acklen

For Nana’s birthday this weekend, the family asks you to kindly consider honoring her with a random act of kindness, and to remember the Bible says to be absent from the body means to be present with the Lord. Celebrate this weekend knowing she is at peace and in the arms of the Father worshipping and praising Him along with other beloved family members… Now, go out… love God, enjoy friends and family and “be nice!”