Mrs. Mary Lou Holyfield

Mrs. Mary Lou Holyfield, 80 of Ararat, NC passed away at her home Sunday, April 1, 2012. Mrs. Holyfield was born in Surry County on February 12, 1932 to the late Ules and Callie Venable Johnson. She retired from Sara Lee Corporation and was a member of True Vine Baptist Church. Mrs. Holyfield is survived by three daughters and a son-in-law, Mary Ann Harrison of Ararat, Annette Holyfield and special friend, James Johnson of Mt. Airy, Gail and Gary Haynes of Mt. Airy; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Kenneth Holyfield of Ararat, Rev. Donnie and Rita Holyfield of Ararat and Ronnie and Sue Holyfield of Mt. Airy; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Shirley Sawyers of King. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Holyfield was preceded in death by her husband, Rufus Bernard Holyfield; a son, Bernard Lee Holyfield; a granddaughter, Misty Holyfield; four sisters, Lena Ray Semones, Vena Bennett, Thelma Holyfield and Ethel Sawyers; two brothers, Claude and Gilmer Johnson. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at New Beginning Baptist Church with Rev. Rawley "Dink" Haynes and Rev. Bill Watson officiating. Burial will follow in the Holyfield Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. The family would like to express their appreciation to a special granddaughter, Rita Jessup for all the wonderful care she gave during the illness of her grandmother. Moody Funeral Home in Mt. Airy is assisting the Holyfield Family. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.