DR. HENRY HOLLEMAN Dr. Jeremiah Henry Holleman, age 94, of Columbus, MS, passed away November 7, 2011, at Springhill Manor in Mobile, AL. Funeral services will be Friday, November 11, 2011, at 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church with Dr. Sam Morris officiating. The interment will immediately follow at Friendship Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will also be Friday, November 11, 2011, from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church. Gunter & Peel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Dr. J. Henry Holleman, son of Jeremiah and Mary Jane Henry Holleman, was born December 18, 1916 in Hattiesburg, MS. He graduated from Camden, MS High School in 1935. He graduated from Millsaps College in 1939. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree form the University of Mississippi and University of Tennessee Medical Schools in 1943. Dr. Holleman received his surgical training at Carraway Methodist in Birmingham and The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Holleman served his country in WWII with the US Armys 89th Infantry in the European Theater until VE day. In 1951 He re-entered service to his country and was the commanding officer of the 8055 MASH unit in Korea. His MASH unit is attributed with the initial use of TRIAGE, and the development of the infancy of vascular surgery. He and his team successfully saved the lives and limbs of over 5000 soldiers with a 97% survival rate. For his service in the MASH unit he was awarded the Bronze star by the US Army and the Order of the British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth. His service in the MASH unit was memorialized in the book, movie and TV series MASH. He served as the role model for Henry Blake. Dr. Holleman returned to civilian life in Columbus where he began his surgical practice in 1950 which spanned 44 years. He touched and saved many lives during his long and distinguished career which he reflects on in his memoirs, An Unbroken Chain. Dr. Holleman was very civic minded. He was a member of the rotary Club of Columbus where he served as President and received the Paul Harris Fellowship award. He also served as the State District Governor of Rotary from 1995 to 1996. He served on the Columbus Historical Society, YMCA Frank Phillips Foundation and was instrumental in the establishment of Trinity Health Care Facility where he served on the Board of Directors from its inception. He served as King of Pilgrimage in 1984. He was a faithful and longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Columbus. Dr. Holleman established The Agnes Smith Holleman Endowment at Mississippi University for Women in 1988 to fund nursing scholarships for second year nursing students who exhibit academic excellence. Outside of medicine Hollemans passion was fishing. He was a member of the Lake Norris Fishing club and the National Lure Collectors Club. Dr. Holleman is preceded in death by his first wife, Agnes, his brothers, Alton Holleman, Otis Holleman, Curtis Holleman, Lee Holleman and his sisters, Pearl Langston, Alene Carson, Olivia Williams, Coresta Marlar, Mary Hemphill and Eunice Love. He is survived by his wife Donna McKnelly Giddens Holleman, son, Dr. Jeremiah Holleman, daughters, Jenny Harkness (John) of Starkville, MS, Helene Hassell (David) Mobile, AL, six grandchildren, Jeremy Holleman (Wisty), Chris Holleman, Scott Holleman( Kana), Sara Holloway(Travis), Daven Hassell and Holley Hassell. Great grandsons Henry and Owen Holleman, great granddaughter El Ora Nicole Holloway and his brother HW Holleman (Jackie) of Jackson, MS. Lorene Utz of Yazoo City, MS; one step-son, Wm. Thomas Giddens (Patti) of Franklin, TN; two step-daughters Joy G. Lumb (Martin) of Uig, Scotland and Dr. Elizabeth Giddens of Marietta, GA; one step-grandson, David Lumb; two step granddaughters, Suzanne Lumb and Katherine Giddens. Pallbearers will be Jeremiah Henry Holleman, Jr., Jeremiah Henry Holleman, III, Alexander Davenport Hassell, David Robert Hassell, John Harkness, and William Scott Holleman. Honorary Pall Bearers will be the Stuckenschneider Sunday School Class, Columbus Bass Club, Ira Carter, Poogie Laws, Mrs. Brown Jones and Mrs. Marguerite Griffith. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 32, Columbus, MS, 39703, or Palmer Home for Children, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS, 39703.
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