Benny Hollis

Coach Benny Hollis



Coach Benny Hollis is absent from the body and present with the Lord.

Funeral services honoring the extraordinary life of Benny Hollis, 71, of Monroe, LA will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 16, 2011 in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe with Rev. Warren Eckhardt and Rev. David Worthington officiating. Interment will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe.

Benny was born on July 13, 1939 in Bernice, LA and passed away Saturday, March 12, 2011 at his home, after a lengthy and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Benny was a faithful Christian servant of our Lord Jesus Christ and was a member of North Monroe Baptist Church since 1970. He was a Deacon and taught Sunday School for many years.

Benny was preceded in death by his mother and father, Aunean Green Hollis and Aylmer Hollis, as well as, his brothers-in-law, Drew Nolen and C.L. Hinton, Jr. and best friends, Lenny and Jo Fant.

He is survived by his devoted wife and best friend, De'Lane Cooper Hollis; son, Jay Hollis and wife Jennifer Richardson Hollis; daughter, Bonnie Hollis Texada and husband, Dr. Richard Texada, Jr.; two precious grandchildren, Emily Claire Texada and Evan Hollis Texada; sister, Ernestine Hollis Nolen; sister-in-law, Carolyn Cooper Hinton; nieces, Kim Hinton Adams, Connie Nolen Humphries, and Molly Nolen Apple; nephews, Randy Hinton, Aaron Hinton, and Paul Nolen; aunts, Ruth Lovelady Farrar and Helen Colvin; as well as many great nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and friends.

Benny was a graduate of Bernice High School and Northeast Louisiana University. He also attained his Masters Degree from Northeast Louisiana University. Benny coached basketball at St. Matthews High School, Neville High School, Louisiana Tech, and Northeast Louisiana University. He was also the Athletic Director at Northeast Louisiana University and University of Tennessee-Martin. He accomplished many honors through his career and loved all the young men that he coached. After retiring from N.L.U. in 1994, he became the Athletic Director at University of Tennessee-Martin for six years. Three of his most treasured honors were Mr. Louisiana Basketball (1982), Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame (1988), and the ULM Hall of Fame (2003).

Benny was loved by all who knew him and will be remembered as a giving person, always serving others. He knew the importance of tradition and was a true southern gentleman.

A special thanks goes to William Bryant, Mattie Higgins, Pear Lee Elliott, and Ruth Grey.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to the North Monroe Baptist Church Building Fund.

Pallbearers will be Paul Nolen, Del Vines, Bob Anderson, Carl Kilpatrick, Jere Stripling, Roger Green, Barry Bailey, and Mike Vining.

Honorary pallbearers are Randy Hinton, Aaron Hinton, Joe Green, William Bryant, and all of his former players that he coached in high school and college.

Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com

Mulhearn Funeral Home

Sterlington Rd., Monroe, LA.