Essie M. Holiness

Services for Essie M. Holiness, 97, Tyler, were held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Flint, with the Rev. John Francis officiating.

Burial was at Bethlehem Flint Cemetery under direction of Community Funeral Home of Tyler.

Mrs. Holiness died Jan. 30, 2007, at a Tyler hospice.

She was born Sept. 17, 1909, in Hawkins and was a lifelong resident of Smith County. She was a homemaker and member of New Bethel Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, three daughters, two grandchildren, two sisters and two brothers.

Survivors include sons, Jesse Holiness and James Holiness, both of Tyler; daughters, Bertha Woods, Tyler, and Ruthie M. Lee, Omaha, Neb.; 19 grandchildren; 38 greatgrandchildren; and 12 greatgreat grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Tommy Owens, Roy Wesley, Leonard Starks, Jimmy White, David Gardner, Dennis Bendy, Daphney Browne, Anthony Bendy and Tony Young.

Grandsons and greatgrandsons served as pallbearers.

Family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at 510 McCann.