Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Holyfield

Mr. Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Holyfield, 81, of 132 Holyfield Drive, Mount Airy, passed away Friday, December 21, 2007, at Northern Hospital of Surry County. Mr. Holyfield was born September 11, 1926, in Cumberland County, VA, to the late John William and Ada Ellen Wood Holyfield. He served in the United States Army during World War II. Frank was a retired construction worker and a member of Little Mountain Baptist Church. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Joyce Ann and Terry Simmons, Faye and Clay Draughn, and Cathy and Joe Lankford, all of Mount Airy; a son and daughter-in-law, Harry and Nancy Holyfield of Mount Airy; ten grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, George and Lorene Holyfield of Dobson; and special sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, the Rev. Roscoe and Mabel Creed, Wallace and Magdalene Creed, and Sue and Blaine Brintle, all of Mount Airy, Jean and Billy Hicks of Pinnacle, and Jane Danley Ararat. In addition to his parents, Mr. Holyfield was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Melia Annie Creed Holyfield; a daughter, Brenda Sue Holyfield; two sisters, Flora Key and Jessie Harrell; and six brothers, Grover Holyfield, Lum Holyfield, Joe Holyfield, Johnnie Holyfield, Rufus Holyfield, and Willie Holyfield. The funeral service will be held Monday, December 24, 2007, at 2:00 PM at Little Mountain Baptist Church. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Billy Watson and the Rev. Rayton Puckett. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy, where his body will remain until carried to the church to lie-in-state 30 minutes before the funeral service.