Lou Hatchett Holcomb's Obituary
Lou Hatchett Holcomb, 87, went Home on January 5, 2016. She is survived by her sister, Eva Nell Hatchett Hughes; step-daughter, Noni Holcomb Gardner (William); daughter, Jamie Holcomb Henwood (Lee); son, Hampton Andrew Holcomb, Sr. (Nancy), sister-in-law, Jean Hatchett; ten grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Mrs. Holcomb was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, James Anderson Holcomb, Sr.; stepson, James Anderson Holcomb, Jr.; grandson, Jay Hatchett Holcomb; and brother, Jerry O. Hatchett. Lou was born October 14, 1928 in Brasstown, NC, but grew up in rural Murphy, NC. She was a church soloist and sang with her sister Eva Nell during WW2 in order to sell War Bonds. She moved to Chattanooga after high school, and worked for a doctor there as his assistant, secretary, and bookkeeper until she married. The doctor had to hire three people to replace her! She met and married her husband, Jim, there in 1951. Jim’s job and a need to help his mother eventually moved them to Memphis in 1961. She cared for her children and mother-in-law, but still had time to serve at her church, St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, most notably in the kitchen. She was an extremely accomplished cook. She later worked as the bookkeeper in the Episcopal Bookshop for almost a decade. She made many lifelong friends here before she and Jim retired to Ocean Springs, MS, in 1986. There, too, they had a full life with many friends, before returning to Memphis in 2012. Although unable to be very active, she continued to make new friends at Lutheran Village and their new church, St. Elisabeth’s. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, January 19, at Memorial Park Funeral Home. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to St. Elisabeth Episcopal Church or LeBonheur Children’s Hospital.
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