William Henry Holman Jr.

William Henry Holman, Jr., 78, died Monday, October 6, 2008, at Highland Home. Mr. Holman was a native Jacksonian, where he graduated from Central High School. He continued his studies at Georgia Tech University and received a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1952. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta social fraternity. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Army as First Lieutenant with European duty and later attained the rank as Major in the active reserves.
Mr. Holman became actively involved in his family business, Jitney-Jungle Stores of America, Inc., upon returning to Jackson. He served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Jitney-Jungle Stores of America, Inc., McCarty-Holman Company, Inc., for the next 34 years.
Under Mr. Holman's leadership, Jitney-Jungle grew to encompass more than 100 stores with over 9,000 employees with locations in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. In 1991-1992, the company achieved $1 billion dollars in sales, which was the first privately-owned company in Mississippi to reach this mark. In 1996, the company was sold to B.R.S. Investment Company of New York City.
Mr. Holman was an active member of First Baptist Church Jackson. He served his church in every capacity from scoutmaster, to Sunday school teacher, Chairman of the deacons and life deacon. For over 40 years, he conducted a weekly prayer group and Bible study.
Mr. Holman dedicated himself to a lifetime of compassionate and devoted service to the community. He was involved in a myriad of organizations by serving as President of the following: Jackson Chamber of Commerce, United Fund of Jackson, Boys Club of Jackson, Founder and first President of Boys Club Foundation, and Topco Association, a food co-op of 32 leading food chains.
Mr. Holman served on the Board and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. He served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Deposit Guaranty Bank (now Regions). He was chairman of the Gulf Shores Baptist Assembly when Hurricane Camille struck.
Other directorships include: Capital Street Corporation, Food Marketing Institute, Boy Scouts, Goodwill Industries Board of Directors, MS Foundation of Independent Colleges, YMCA, Symphony Board, Jackson Rotary Club, Trustee of St. Andrew's Episcopal School and Chairman of the University of Mississippi Business Advisory Committee.
He has been honored with numerous awards by being selected in 1965 as the "Young Man of the Year" by the Jackson Jaycees, selected in 1973 by the Newcomen Society in North America as honoree for the state of Mississippi, selected in 1989 as Marketer of the year for the State of Mississippi, chosen in 1992 as the Captain of Industry by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and named in 1993 along with his wife, Sondra, People of Vision by The National Society to Prevent Blindness Mississippi Affiliate.
Mr. Holman's character exhibited a life of selfless generosity to the cause of education by giving young people an opportunity to advance. Through his kind generosity, many young people were blessed with an opportunity to obtain a college education. He was a man who, by his nature, encouraged all to strive to be the best they could be. At the University of Mississippi, Holman Hall, Ole Miss Business School, now stands because of this outstanding man.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William Henry and Elise Holman.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sondra Sutherland Holman; daughter, Holly Holman Buchanan (Brooks); son, William Henry Holman III (Jenny); daughter, Janie Holman Maloney (Steve), all of Jackson; daughter, Sondra Holman Taylor (Walter) of Grenada; sister and brother-in-law, Marie Holman Swayze (Douglas); and ten grandchildren, Britt Buchanan, Ryan Buchanan, Holman Buchanan, Honey Holman, Travis Taylor, Holman Taylor, Skylar Taylor, Cole Maloney, Michael Maloney, and Margaret Elise Maloney.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the 10:00 am funeral services today, Thursday, October 9, 2008, at First Baptist Church Jackson in the sanctuary with burial following at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland.
Memorials may be made to Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth, Inc., 860 East River Place, Suite 104, Jackson, MS, 39202, and to First Baptist Church Jackson, Post Office Box 250, Jackson, MS, 39205.
Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland is assisting with the funeral arrangements.
Henry was a man of stature, a man of service who deeply loved God, his country, his family and friends.