Brandon
Funeral Home
Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home
Visitation
Baldwin Lee Funeral Home, Pearl, MS, Sunday, September 25, 2022, 1-3 pm
Service
Graveside service at 3:30 pm, Crestview Cemetery, Brandon, MS
Obituary
Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on September 20, 2022, and has moved on to his heavenly home. CMSgt(Ret) Francis Earl Holland, age 87, a retired member of the MS Air National Guard who had served within the 172d Airlift Wing , has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Airman. We applaud your patriotism and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Obituary, visitation, and service details:
CMSGT Francis Earl Holland, Ret., departed this life on the 20th day of September, 2022. He was born December 13, 1934 to Victor H. Holland and Hazel Yon Holland, deceased. In Brandon, MS. He was a veteran, serving 8 years USAF and 29 years, MS AIR NATIONAL GUARD. He is survived by, Ruby Patterson Holland, wife. They married September 24, 1957 in Wichita County, Texas and celebrated 65 years being each other’s best friend and soulmate. His children along with the grands and greats were his favorites in all the world, Robert Victor Holland and wife Reba; grandson, Jonathan and wife, Britney; Patrick Bradshaw Holland and wife, Debra; granddaughters, Monica Bane and husband Trae, and Camille Parker and husband Reggie; Joseph Francis Holland; Denise Holland Bowness and husband William and his great grandchildren, Jameson, Cooper and Samuel Bane, and his partner in cleaning the yard, and picking up sticks Willow Grace Parker, This was his Tribe, his people…He is further survived by a brother, Robert Gerald Holland.
The family will receive visitors at Baldwin Lee Funeral Home, Pearl, Mississippi on Sunday, September 25, 2022, from 1:00 until 3:00 pm with a graveside service to follow at 3:30pm at Crestview Cemetery, Brandon, MS. Serving as pallbearers are Jonathan Holland, Trae Bane, Reggie Parker, William Fon Campbell, Kenneth Smith, and David Quirin. Scott Lawson and Josh Gray will officiate.
Chief Holland was a member of Brandon First United Methodist Church all of his life. During his military career, he was stationed at several bases, Lackland AFB, TX,, Amarillo AFB, TX, Osaka, Japan, Sheppard, AFB, TX, Moody AFB, GA and lastly Charles Sullivan MS AIR NATIONAL GUARD Base, Jackson, MS.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Wounded Warriors Project or a charity of your choice.