Doris Catherine Holliman

On Monday February 12, 2018, in her home surrounded by family, Doris Catherine Holliman, went to be with her Lord and Savior. Doris was born December 16, 1928, in Jenkins, Kentucky. She was the second oldest of eighteen children—seven sons and eleven daughters—born to Sterling Sr. and Lucy Mae Wright. While living in Jenkins, Doris attended the Dunham Colored High School and was baptized at Mt. Olive Baptist Church where Sterling Sr. was a deacon and Sunday School administrator. In 1945 when Doris was 17 years old, the family moved from Jenkins, Kentucky, to Columbus, Ohio, taking residence in the now historically designated Hanford Village where she attended St. Mark Baptist Church and Hall Memorial Church. Also, while living in Hanford, she graduated from Central High (Night) School then met and married Herbert Holliman. From this union six children were born: Paul, George, Terrance, Caro, Herbert Jr., and Wendy. In 1962, three years after the Hanford Village flood, the Hollimans moved from Hanford Village to Driving Park. As the oldest daughter, Doris had a lot of responsibility, bearing it until her health began to decline. Quiet, soft-spoken, and in the background accomplishing a lot without fanfare, Doris was an example of the biblical Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman. Friends and members of the immediate and extended family could ask her for help and she would make herself available to them. A gracious listener and soothing soul, she was present in times of urgency to comfort and support. She had a positive effect on people, portraying the standard of the Golden Rule. She was also known to help those whom others tended to avoid. Doris was a confidant to whom confessions and secrets could be told and kept. It was said that if you wanted a secret to be kept, tell Doris. Doris was known by many names. Depending on the person addressing her, she was fondly called: Dah, Dot, Doris, Mom, Mommy, Grandma D, Grandmother, and Mrs. Holliman. She loved and was deeply dedicated to her family, and when one of her sisters continually proclaimed that she was Doris’ favorite, Doris was quick to correct her sister and say that she loved all her sisters equally. Although she was a homebody and didn’t get out much, she was always up-to-date on the activities of her children, grandchildren, family members, Columbus City Council, and Columbus Board of Education. In her younger years Doris had aspirations of being a mother and a nurse. Though she didn’t become a nurse, she was a loving and devoted mother to her six children and a caregiver to many. Doris is preceded in the calling by her husband of 55 years, Herbert Holliman, Sr.; parents Sterling Sr. and Lucy Mae Wright; grandparents, Elige and Ella Jackson; grandson, Paul Sean Parker; brothers, James O. (Skeet), Sterling Jr. (Bro), Marion (Red), Louis M. (Honey), and Charles E. (Chuckie) Wright; adopted brother, Vernon Fielder; nephews, Derick Pullien, Kevin Wright, Eric Wright, Mitchell Wright; niece Rochelle Johnson; great niece, Deidre Johnson; father- and mother-in-law Jesse and Henrietta Holliman; brothers-in-law, John and Jesse Holliman. Those she leaves to celebrate her life and cherish her memories are children: Paul Holliman, George (Jeannetta) Holliman, Terrance (Gradella) Holliman, Caro Holliman-Cantrell, Herbert Holliman, Jr., and Wendy Holliman; grandsons, Terrance (Rachel) Holliman, Jr., Ross Holliman, Darrin Holliman, Chonce Holliman, Dominic Holliman; granddaughters, Ashlee Holliman, Tyler Holliman, Meliyah Holliman; great-grandchildren, Terrance M. III, Mateo, Gia, Nevaeh, Darrin Jr., Daylen; step-granddaughters, Hope (Duane) Foster, and Traci Harrison and their children Dolan, Kylan, Amanda, and Karter; brothers, Donald (Sheila) Wright and Jerome Wright; sisters, Jacqueline Redmond, Betty Ann Johnson, Carrie Young, Shirley Wright, Brenda (Harold) Cowan, Phyllis Corner, Barbra Wright, Evelyn Doughty, Arlene Calloway, and Lynn (Russell) Cunningham; sisters-in-law, Betty Wright, and Sharon Combs-Wright; aunt, Aileen (Sister) Jackson-Bailey; uncles, Tommy, Raymond (Mamie), and Paul (Bea) Jackson; and, a host of other family members and friends.