J.B. Hollingsworth

J.B. Hollingsworth passed on March 22, 2025 after a brief illness at age 81 years young. J.B. Hollingsworth was born on November 28, 1943 in Newton County, Mississippi to Robert and Mary Lee Hollingsworth. He peacefully left this life to be with his parents and his sisters, Mary Ware and Betty Lynn Jordan.

While in high school, he met the love of his life, his wife for more than 63 wonderful years, Laverne Goodwin. They met in Lake, Mississippi in high school (9th grade). They have two children; son Russell Hollingsworth (Shannon) of Paducah, Kentucky and daughter Renee Mitchell (Jon) of Knoxville, Tennessee. J.B. adored his three grandchildren; Anna and Jacob Hollingsworth, Paducah, Kentucky and Davis Mitchell, Knoxville, Tennessee.

After J.B. and Laverne married, they both worked for the phone company. J.B. was a lineman, and he worked his way up the company to management. The family lived in three different states: Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee. J.B. was promoted several times during his 44 year career with South Central Bell/Bellsouth/AT&T. His family is so proud of what he was able to accomplish during those years including being promoted to a Director and a General Manager. After his 44 years, he decided to retire in 2007. He and Laverne later moved to Knoxville, Tennessee.

J.B. was an avid fisherman. He also loved to boat ride with family and friends. His boat rides always ended with him wanting to grill hamburgers for everyone.

More than fishing and boat riding, J.B. loved Ole Miss football. Hotty Toddy! He was a huge fan and enjoyed discussing games with his brother-in-law, Leon Goodwin. He could spend hours discussing and dissecting games.

J.B. loved the Lord. He was a lifelong Christian. He and Laverne are members of Central Bearden Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. They belonged to Baptist churches in every town they lived.

The family will be receiving visitors at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, Mississippi Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 12:30 p.m. until the celebration of his beautiful life in the chapel, which begins at 2:00 p.m. He will be laid to rest at Hazel Cemetery in Lake, Mississippi, near both his parents and sister.

The families’ wishes for donations would be: to be sent to Hazel Baptist Church in Lake, Mississippi.