Hollis Eugene Hyde

Hollis Eugene Hyde, 84, of Vestavia, AL, died Sunday, October 25, 2015, surrounded by family and friends and comforted by his wife, Jo Ann. Hollis was born on September 3, 1931, in Rome, GA, son of the late Alvin Vann Hyde and Mary Estella “Stella” Smith Hyde. He graduated from Armuchee High School in 1948, attended Berry College, graduated from Georgia State College in 1959, and received his master’s in Education Leadership from University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1973. In 1953 he married Cecile Catherine Owens, who preceded him in death. Hollis served in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1953 until 1955 as a radio instructor. He was the only enlisted man on the Fort Jackson base pistol team. After discharge, he worked for the YMCA in Rome, GA, and in Birmingham, AL, from 1962 until 1972. From 1972 until his retirement in 1993 he was the Director of Community Education for Jefferson County School System. He was a founding member and three time president of the Alabama Community Education Association. He was the first full-time Community Education Coordinator in the State of Alabama and established the first community school program in Jefferson County. Hollis was a member of North Shelby Baptist Church, formerly a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church. One of Hollis’ greatest joys was serving as a chaplain for the North Shelby Baptist Association and telling the people there of God’s love. He served on several disaster relief mission trips with NSBC following Hurricane Katrina. Hollis loved his Lord, family, many friends and NSBC church family. Hollis married Jo Ann Truelove Holmes in 2006. They lived in Vestavia, AL. He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Hyde; son, Eric Hyde of Atlanta, GA; daughters Catherine (Bob) Larsen of Austin, TX, Lisa (Philip) Holladay of Fairhope, AL, and Andrea (Will) Brown of Pell City, AL; stepsons Jerry (Teresa) Aultman of Trussville, AL, and Joe (Sunny) Aultman of Roswell, GA; stepdaughter Cheri (Mike) Scharbert of Pelham, AL; four grandchildren and seven stepgrandchildren whom he loved as his own. Memorial donations may be made to the building fund for North Shelby Baptist Church. A Visitation at 10:00 a.m. and Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. will be held Friday, October 30, 2015, at North Shelby Baptist Church, 4100 Belcher Drive, Birmingham, AL. The urn will be placed at the Alabama National Cemetery, 3133 Hwy. 119, Montevallo, AL, at 2:00 p.m.