Thomas E. "Poppie" Hollingsworth, 87, retired minister and for the last 18 years a chaplain for Greenwood, Mount Olivet and Arlington Funeral Homes, died Wednesday, May 18, 2005, peacefully at home from cancer.

Funeral: 1 p.m. Saturday at Christ Chapel Bible Church. Burial: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Greenwood Funeral Home.

Memorials: May be made to Covenant Hospice, 3221 Collinsworth, Suite 160, Fort Worth, Texas 76107; or Christ Chapel Bible Church Building Fund, 3740 Birchman Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76107.

Tom was born April 25, 1918, the youngest of six children, in Vermillion, S.D. His life was spent in the service of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His love and devotion to his family and friends was unending.

The family would like to thank the staff of Covenant Hospice for their excellent care and compassion, and to his many friends for their love and support during his illness, especially Bob and Lunda May O'Toole.

Survivors: His loving wife of 66 years, Fritzi; daughter, Cookie Harrell and husband, Pete, of Fort Worth; son, Pepper Hollingsworth of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Don Harrell and wife, Bari, Lori Walker and husband, Lynn, Keely Marshall and husband, Graham, and Kara Harrell; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous other family and friends.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Star-Telegram on May 20, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Hollingsworth

12 Entries

Charlotte Ferren

July 17, 2023

Rest in Peace Tom Hollingsworth. Love, Charlotte Ferren and Heidi-Marie Ferren

Kim Cleaver

June 8, 2005

What a wonderful man Chaplain Tom was!!! He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him!!! His family is in our thoughts and prayers.

Nancy Floyd

May 24, 2005

Having worked as the switchboard operator at Mt. Olivet, I was fortunate to have Chaplain Tom enter my life and heart. He was always so happy and full of life. It uplifted your spirits to visit with him. My God bless the family he leaves behind.

Meg Harrell-Edmonds

May 24, 2005

My Dearest Poppie,

This week has been so long for all of us you have left behind. We know that you are in Heaven with the best of them and that we will in time join you and God to our eternal home. With having said that, I can’t help but look back at some of the most memorable of occasions that link you and me too the same moment.

When my Lucas was born and the way you welcomed him into the family as the Patriarch overseeing him. I will forever be able to hear you calling out as we entered the room, “Hello, Lucas. How are you today?” Always wanting to hear about what was going on in Luke’s world. You have been such a wonderfully wise, spiritually strong Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather, one that so many of us have come to in time of need. I specifically recall when young Ashley had been sick and eventually died, that you comforted Keely, Penny, Cookie, and all of us when her passing was so hard to understand. God called you to do a job that you did without questioning, you gave yourself to God and let God comfort us through you when we needed it most. I am going to miss you so very much, as will Grammie, Cookie, Pepper, and all of your Grandkids and Great–Grandkids, Family and such special friends. I know that I can speak for all of us, when I say THANK YOU POPPIE FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP US BECOME BETTER PEOPLE. I can also promise that because of you, we are all better for having known you. You are one of my truest teachers in this life so that I can become the best that I can be and share that knowledge with others. Thank you for the assurance that was such a part of you; helping us learn to be the best we can be. I love you Poppie and I vow to watch over the ones you have left here on earth, and to help them , as you have taught us, the best I can….until we meet again. Thank you for being such an inspiration to me and my family. Love always, your Great-Grandson’s mom.

PS Thank you for teaching us to write to others from our hearts and our souls; it’s always so cool to learn from one of the BEST. I MISS YOU! I LOVE YOU!

Gwen Harp

May 23, 2005

Your friend and Artist from Dan Brown's Tues. A.M. class

Vanessa Garrington

May 23, 2005

There are so many things I could say about this wonderful man,Mr. Hollingsworth! but, those of us who knew him,know.I meet him when working at Greenwwood, He walked by me one day,turned around and said,you look sad,I smiled, than he said, Vanessa, God is with you always, and he will listen to your prayers, anytime you need him.Just open yourself to him, he will fill your life with joy and happiness. I'll never forget thoses words. Thank you, Mr. Hollingsworth, you will be missed greatly. Vanessa Garrington

J. W. & Bobbye Titsworth

May 22, 2005

It is hard to say goodbye to a long time friend. There is a special bond with some which makes it even harder and Brother Hollingsworth was one of those.

When we came to Fort Worth for the first time in 1959, some friends invited us to visit First Assembly of God. Brother Hollingsworth was the pastor. We fell in love with him and the church and stayed, no need to tryout any other churches.

Although we returned to Arkansas a couple of years later and he moved to California, we both returned to Fort Worth and the friendship continued. After a period of time he returned to the church, which had changed its name to Christ Church, as associate and minister of music. Our son Patrick was the youth pastor and Brother Hollingsworth was a wonderful friend, associate and mentor to him..

He loved to celebrate his birthdays and Bob and Lunda Mae O'Toole would host the party and invite a host of friends he would refer to as the old gang. We were honored to be included in that group.

Over the years we came to refer to him as just PT (Pastor Tom). Patrick made the heavenly journey in September and now they can once again be on staff together.

Farewell PT!

Alice DeMent

May 21, 2005

Pete and Cookie,

Our love and hearts are with you. We were all so blessed to have been a part of Poppy's life and to have known a man of such enduring faith. Love, Bernie and Alice

David Berthold

May 21, 2005

Dear Family of Tom Hollingsworth,

I only knew Mr. Hollingsworth because we were patrons of Dale's Donut Shop. For two years, I was the leader of a monthly workshop for my firm. On the last Wednesday of every month during that period, I would stop at Dale's around 6:15am and buy 1 1/2 doz donuts to take to my charges. Mr. Hollingsworth would be sitting at a table by the window reading the paper. The first time I saw him there was an irresistable desire on my part to say hello and engage him in brief conversation. It was like a magnet drawing me to him. He looked up at me and smiled the most engaging and warm smile without affectation or seeming to be forced. It was as if he wanted to include me however briefly into his world. We continued to have these brief encounters throughout the next many months and I always felt some disappointment when he was not there. He exuded a positive and loving energy that made the rest of my day sparkle just like his smile and twinkle in his eyes. In early April I had a breakfast meeting at Mimi's off South Bryant Irvin and there he was sitting with several friends(family?) having a lively conversation. I did not intrude but marveled at this man and that his being was permanently a part of mine. I did not know his name nor his occupation. I saw his photograph in yesterday's paper and discovered those details. I can close my eyes and see him as a good shepard to his flock-loving, supportive, wise and forever believing in the goodness of all people. I wish I could have known him in that environment but I thank God I had the opportunity to know him the little bit I did. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Sincerely and with love,

David Berthold

Kathy Grissom

May 20, 2005

I had the pleasure of working with Tom at both Greenwood and Arlington Funeral Homes. Tom strived to make each service he officiated a personal and comforting experience for the family even though he might not have personally known them. He took the time to meet with each family and get some insight into the life of the deceased and he tried to include these things he had learned in his service. Whether the deceased was an abandoned baby or a county burial, Tom was there to say a few words at the graveside. He shared with me his thoughts on why terrible things happen in this world, and even now I remember his words when I read about a tragic event in the newspaper. Tom was one in a million and I am honored to have known him.

Delores Carter

May 20, 2005

Pepper, my prayers go out to you & your family. May God Bless you all. Pepper, we went to Poly High together. So sorry for your loss.

Delores

Judy Smith

May 20, 2005

To Tom's family, I can't put into words how sad I am with Tom's passing. I met Tom when he came to work at Greenwood many years ago and fell in awe of him. Tom was one of the most remarkable people I have ever met and a part of my heart is empty now with his death.

Tom was the most fairest person and he never judge anyone that I knew of and to be his friend was the greatest gift I could have asked for.

I know that God welcomed him into the kingdom with open arms and I am sure he will be preparing his house for Fritzi when she will be called home to be with him.

Please know that you will be in my prayers in this most difficult time.

Judy Smith

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