Dr. James Allen Holloway

Dr. James A Holloway was born on August 28, 1955, and left this earthly life and was promoted to be with his Savior in glory on November 1, 2026, at the age of 71 after a brief illness.

He was born in Pascagoula, MS, the youngest of 5 boys of Keith and Deveira Holloway, and lived his early years on the south Mississippi coast in Gautier. His family moved to the Atlanta area when he was 6 years old, and he considered Atlanta to be his home. A lover of the woods, he went to Duke University to earn a degree in Forestry. However, three semesters in, a mysterious illness brought him back home. While trying to find an answer to his health problem (which turned out to be a blood sugar issue), he decided to take some college classes at Mercer University in Atlanta, close to his home. It was there that he met the love of his life, Mary. It was also there that he felt the call of God to enter the ministry. Rather than return to Duke, he remained at Mercer in Atlanta to earn a degree in education. Upon graduation, James and Mary were married and moved to Fort Worth, Texas for James to earn a master's degree in Christian Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After seminary, the two lived in Philadelphia, PA, working to begin a Southern Baptist church in the southwest area of the city. Shortly after their daughter Kara was born, the family returned to North Georgia, where James served the North Central Missions Center (Associational Missions Program) as Education Specialist. In 1999, the Bethel Baptist Association in Southwest Georgia called James as their Associational Mission Strategist ("Associational Missionary"), where he faithfully served the churches of the Association until his retirement in 2020. During his time with the Bethel Association, he went back to school and earned his Doctor of Educational Ministries degree from New Orleans Seminary.

James is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary Holloway; daughter Kara Michelle Linker (Joshua); grandchildren Ava Vallaroni (Isaac), Harlie Cooper, Israel Linker, Egan Linker, Arrow Linker, and Oliver Linker. He is also survived by his brothers John Holloway (Mary Ann), and David Holloway (Anne), numerous nephews and nieces, several aunts, and one uncle. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Lee Holloway and Ken Holloway.

Although he served all the churches of the Bethel Association, James made his home at First Baptist Church of Blakely where visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Rev. Chris Guffey, Rev. Jeff Hines, Rev. Jackie Williams, and Rev. Michael Williams will officiate a Celebration of Life Service at First Baptist Church on Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 11:00 am. Interment will be held at Union Baptist Church in Caesar, MS, close to James' parents.

Memorial gifts may be made to First Baptist Church of Blakely Building Fund or Bethel Baptist Association. Special thanks to church family who have served us during this difficult time, and to the Centerwell Home Health nurses and therapists for all of their help.

Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.