January 10, 2024, 94, Mount Olive —

Ralph Hollingsworth, a Mount Olive resident, found eternal rest Wednesday morning, January 10, 2024.  He was 94.

Mr. Hollingsworth graduated from Mount Olive High School and served in the United States Army with duties in Korea.

The better part of his working career was spent serving the Town of Mount Olive as department head over the fire department and was its first paid firefighter whose duties included the maintaining of premises and fire fighting equipment along with dispatching fire calls.  Also, he was the department’s training officer and had held the office of the assistant chief among other official positions during his tenure.

Although Mr. Hollingsworth was not a regular church attender, he was a Christian and communed with the Lord in his own private way.  Being the outdoorsman that he was, he enjoyed bird hunting, and even boating and skiing as a young man.  An avid baseball and softball player, he played in local leagues until he was in his early 50’s.  He much enjoyed gardening, especially the field peas that he grew,  and prided himself on the immaculate lawn his efforts yielded.  With the ability to figure out most things and repair them, he might have been considered a jack of all trades.  In all that he did, he was honest to a fault, and was precise and very particular in seeing that things were done right. 

Mr. Hollingsworth leaves behind his wife of 68 years, Betty Joyner Hollingsworth, of the home; a daughter, Pam Hollingsworth of Greenville; a nephew; and several cousins.

He now joins in death his father, Percy Drue Hollingsworth; his mother, Nellie Mae Fields Hollingsworth Jackson; step-father, Perry Jackson; and step-sister, Marie Jackson Craven.

Mrs. Hollingsworth and her daughter, Pam, will receive friends and relatives at Tyndall Funeral Home on Sunday, January  14, beginning at 2:00 p.m., with services to follow at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel.  Officiating will be Pastor Bob Bardin.  Burial will conclude the service at Maplewood Cemetery.  Flowers are welcome, or memorial gifts may be made to Mount Olive Fire Department, PO Box 939, Mount Olive, NC 28365, or to the charity of one’s choosing.

Indeed, Mr. Ralph Hollingsworth was a good man.  His life and the way in which he conducted himself, quietly and discreetly, spoke volumes. He will be missed.