William Howard Holley Sr.

William Howard Holley Sr., a resident of Headland, died Thursday, May 10, 2012. He was 105.

            Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, May 13, 2012 in Holman Headland Mortuary Chapel with Reverend Phil Craddock officiating.  Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Sunday at the mortuary chapel.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity.

             Mr. Holley was born and reared in Samson, Alabama where his family ran a farm and logging business on the Pea River and a general mercantile store in town. He was a 1929 graduate of Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) where he received a degree in Pharmacy. A resident of Headland since 1944, Mr. Holley served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 179^th General Hospital in Rouen and Paris, France.   He was retired as the owner and operator of Holley's Pharmacy in Headland and in earlier years, operated Cash Pharmacy in Abbeville. While the drug store filled most of his hours and many of his nights, he was often at his farm waiting for daylight to begin fencing, planting blueberries and tending his garden.

Mr. Holley was a member of the Headland United Methodist Church, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Confederacy and volunteered at Landmark Park. At age 103, Auburn University awarded Mr. Holley the Golden Eagle Award for being the oldest male alumnus. Mr. Holley was preceded in death by his parents, William Columbus Holley and Sarah Evelyn Powell Holley, his wife, Martha Solomon Holley and all his sisters and brothers. Doc Holley will always be remembered in his community for his many years of service, kindness, generosity and wisdom.

            Surviving relatives include a daughter, Elizabeth Holley Caneer and husband, Ralph, Huntsville, Alabama; a son William H. (Bill) Holley, Jr. and wife, Teresa, Headland; four grandchildren, Arthur Caneer and wife, Becky, Philip Caneer and wife, Katherine, William H. Holley III and Jennifer Holley Baker; seven great-grandchildren, Daniel Caneer, Hallie Caneer, Caroline Caneer, Pippa Caneer, Greyson Caneer, Hunter Smith and David Baker; two  sisters-in-law, Sally Holley, Geneva; Mary Emma Carr, Dothan; special friends, Everneice McDaniel, Rhoda Granberry and Gayle Nelson; numerous nieces and nephews.