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.
