George W. L. Holt

George William Lavell Holt of Brandon went home to be with the Lord on November 5, 2021.

Lavell was born in Meridian, Mississippi on April 11, 1922, to James Charlie and Bessie Holt.  He was an active member of Union Primitive Baptist Church.  He devoted his life to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to being a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and servant to others.

Lavell inducted July 1, 1944 in the United States Army at Camp Shelby, Mississippi at the age of 22 serving in the American and European Theaters.  Battles and campaigns: Po Valley.  Decorations and citation: European African Middle Eastern Theater of Operations Medal with 1 Bronze Star; World War II Victory Medal; American Theater of Operations Medal.  Discharged as Private, 488th Motor Ambulance Company, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on January 10, 1946.  Re-enlisted January 11, 1946 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and served as motor transportation NCO in the American Theater.  Decorations and citations: World War II Victory Medal.  Discharged as Staff Sergeant, 421st Medical Collecting Company, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, March 11, 1947.

Upon discharge from the service, Lavell obtained an Associate in Arts degree from Meridian Junior College.  After receiving his degree in 1953, he opened a small engines business, Holt and Sons, which he operated as a master mechanic for many years until his retirement.  He had a servant’s heart and found great joy in helping others especially when it came to anything mechanical.

Lavell enjoyed nothing more than being surrounded by his family.  He especially enjoyed teaching all of his children and grandchildren to water ski when they were residents of Dalewood Shores.  He also enjoyed the friendships and memories created by being a member of the Queens City Good Sam’s Club traveling in their RV to many sites across the country. Once his RV traveling days ended, he enjoyed staying busy working in his shop.

He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his family.  He was preceded by his loving wife of 60 years, Carmen Beeman Holt; loving wife of  18 years ,Bonnie McKay Holt; sons, Dwight Keith Holt and Phillip Holt; daughter, Evarette Holt Zachary; grandson, Dustin Holt; brothers, James M. Holt, Gerald Holt, and William Holt; sisters, Eloise Callahan, Dorothy Moseley, Nell McAnally, and Vie Holt.  He is survived by sisters, Via Everett (Dennis), Ann Airhart (David), and Joyce Johnson (Jimmy); eight grandchildren, Jeff Zachary (Diann), Mike Zachary (Kathy), Carmen Mitchell (David), Tony Holt, Amy Dawn Holt, Kimberly Evans, Keith Holt, and Dolly Holt; twenty-five great grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren.

A graveside service, celebrating his life, will be Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at 11:00, at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens located at 7774 MS-39 South, Meridian, MS. Elder Mickey Myers will be officiating.

The family is deeply grateful and wishes to express our thanks to the nurses and staff at the VA Hospital in Jackson, MS who displayed the love and compassion of Christ to our family and to Lavell during his final weeks.