Drucilla Tate "Dru" Jolly

1935 - 2023

Drucilla Tate Jolly, a Godly woman, realized the promises of her faith and met the Christ Child on the celebration of his birthday, Dec. 25, 2023, from North MS Medical Center at 3:10 AM. She was 88 years old. Born in the Brewer Community of Lee County on Dec. 10, 1935 as one of 8 children born to the late Leon Tate and Vance Allred Tate, Dru, as everyone called her, grew up in Brewer and was instilled with a lifelong love of all things and people in Brewer. After attending Brewer School through the 8th grade, she went on to Shannon High School where she graduated in 1954 and was a star basketball player. Dru married Edward Ray "Babe" Jolly on Dec. 3, 1954; he died in January of 1971. Instructor Jolly spent over thirty three years as the lead educator at Itawamba Community College teaching Upholstery and Industrial Sewing. She taught hundreds of students who have gone on to fill careers in furniture manufacturing in Northeast Miss. Dru was industrious, spunky, possessed a dry wit, was one of the kindest souls anywhere. She always had a smile on her face and an encouraging word for everyone. A devout Christian, she was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church-Shannon where she was a Sunday school teacher and sang in the choir. Dru was missionary minded all her life and spent much of her adult life going on mission trips through Global Outreach and Southern Baptist Churches. Honduras was her favorite missionary field but she also spent time in Romania and Africa over the years. She loved reading and studying her Bible and was one of the best there was in playing "Bible Trivia." Later in life, she became a celebrated oil and watercolor artist and her paintings, which she normally gave away, were in high demand. Dru loved games, loving her family, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She touched so many people in her earthly pilgrimage that her legacy will be that of a simple woman with childlike faith who just went about "doing good." Drucilla Tate Jolly will be missed.

A service celebrating her life will be held at 3 PM Sunday, December 31, 2023, at the First Baptist Church in Shannon with her Pastor, Bro. John Davis, and her longtime pastor, Bro. Mark Cayson officiating. Burial will be private to the family. Visitation will begin at 1 PM Sunday, 12/31/23, at the Church. Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo is honored to serve their friends. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed on the First Baptist -Shannon Facebook page.

Dru is survived by her 4 children, Edward Jolly (Christi) of Nettleton, Angela Collins (Gary) of Shannon, Rachel Wilburn (Randy) of Mooreville, and Cindy Jones (Buddy) of Shannon; 7 grandchildren, Ricky (Julie), Chris (Brooke), Kayla (Ty), Cory (Tyler), Lindsey (Will), Magan and Justin; 18 great-grandchildren; her sister, Pat Riley of Nettleton and Mitchell Center in Tupelo; her two brothers, Eddie Tate (Carolyn) of Pontotoc, and Alfred Tate (Kathryn) of Brewer; a special niece, Samantha Tate Bell, and numerous other nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband, Babe Jolly; her parents, Leon and Vance Tate; and siblings, Rosemary Coley, Johnny Tate, Adeila Barthomae, and Jenny Carroll.

Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorials in Dru's memory may be made to First Baptist Church "Forward by Faith", P. O. Box 21, Shannon, Ms. 38868, or to Global Outreach, 74 Kings Highway, Pontotoc, MS 38863.