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Robert Thomas Hollingsworth

 

ROBERT THOMAS HOLLINGSWORTH, JR.

AAFA #0772

1924–2010

 

 

 

Robert, Kathryn, and their son Robert III “Holly” Hollingsworth

 

 

DELTA DEMOCRAT TIMES

Greenville, Washington Co., MS—19 July 2010

 

ATLANTA—Funeral services for Robert Thomas Hollingsworth Jr., MD, 86, of Atlanta, and formerly of Shelby, will be in Smyrna, Ga. He died on July 15, 2010, in Atlanta.

            Dr. Hollingsworth was born June 24, 1924, in Houston, Miss. to the Rev. Robert Thomas Sr. and Mattie Alford, joining his adopted older brother, Johnny.

            Upon returning from service as a WWII Naval aviator piloting submarine hunters while serving in England and French Morocco, he earned his undergraduate degree at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. Dr. Bob, as he was affectionately known, attended both University of MS and University of Tennessee Medical Schools and was awarded his medical degree and license to practice in 1950.

            Dr. Bob and his new bride took leave of post-graduate surgical training in 1953 to answer the call from Shelby, a farming community 100 miles south of Memphis in which the town doctor had retired. For over 50 years, he practiced his one-in-the-same love and hobby hand-in-hand with his wife who is a Registered Nurse and was his constant professional companion. Together, they tirelessly cared for thousands and delivered over 5000 babies.

            In 1964, having been denied visas to work with Dr. G.S. Seagrave, author of Burma Surgeon in present-day Myanmar, the couple gave 6 months of their time and talents to Albert Schweitzer Memorial Hospital in Haiti.

            Dr. Bob enjoyed his family, occasionally taking time to travel. He was active in Rotary International, City Council, Shelby Methodist Church and Boy Scouts. Achieving Eagle Scout at age 16 under the guidance of his dad the Scout Master, Dr. Bob was awarded the Silver Beaver 52 years later, for his lifelong dedication to Scouting.

            Dr. Bob, having coped with Alzheimer's for 16 years, left this world on July 15, 2010, surrounded by his family. He gave his remains to Emory Medical School in Atlanta. Please join the family in celebrating a life well-lived.

            He is survived by Kathryn his wife of 58 years; daughter, Anna Kathryn Smith [AAFA #0927] (David); son, Holly [AAFA #0928] (Lynn); and granddaughter, Katelyn Hollingsworth.

            Memorials are received for nursing and pre-med scholarships by the Dr. R.T. and Kathryn Hollingsworth Endowment and should be addressed to Delta State University Alumni Foundation, P.O. Box 3141, Cleveland, MS 38733.

 

AAFA NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates of Robert T. Hollingsworth (SS# issued in MS), last residence Smyrna, Cobb Co., GA.

            The Dr. Robert T. Hollingsworth Library in Shelby, Bolivar Co., MS, is named after him. The second photo above was taken at the luncheon following the dedication of the library.

            His Alford lineage, from his mother: Martha Elizabeth 1885 MS2, Needham Edwin 1845 MS3, Warren Jackson 1819 MS4, Edwin Barksdale 1792 NC5, Jacob 1761 NC6, Julius 1717 VA7, James 1687 VA8, John 1645 VA9.