Friends and Family gather to Celebrate a Milestone....July 2014
The youngest of the seven children of Ulyss (1884-1965) and Pearl Caine Holliman (1888-1955) observed his 90th birthday surrounded by friends and family in Gulf Shores, Alabama recently. Speaking emotionally to over 70 guests at a birthday luncheon, Ralph Holliman, retired corporate executive, father of two and grandfather of one, said "he could not believe he was 90", and "must be the luckiest man alive".
Ralph grew up in Irondale, Alabama and served in the European theater during World War II. For sixty years, he was married to the late Motie Chism Holliman (1925-2003). Below after their wedding in 1943 in front of the Robert W. Daly, Sr. home on 3rd Avenue North, Irondale. Ralph entered the U.S. Army shortly after the marriage, and did not return home until 1945.
Below, left to right: Ralph with his lovely wife of seven years, Laura; daughter Pam Holliman, grand daughter Rachel Harbour and front son-in-law Tim Donald, (not shown) Kathy Holliman's husband. Ninety candles blazed on the cake while the caterer (background) stood by with a fire extinguisher!
Known for his wry and understated sense of humor,
Ralph boldly sported a 'Happy Birthday' cake chapeau
during much of the event!
Kathy (left) is a professional writer and Pam (right) a seminary professor. Kathy's daughter, Rachel, edits art history publications for a Boston publisher.
Relatives in attendance on a glorious summer day were seated left to right: Pam Holliman, Ralph Holliman, Laura Holliman, Kathy Holliman and Rachel Harbour. Back rows: Terri Heyduk, Jean Holliman, Wally Allen (back row), Tommie Holliman Allen (partially obscured by the candles!), Chuck Morton, Carol Cornelius Morton, Nancy Ferrell, Charles H. Ferrell, Glenn Holliman and Tim Donald.
Bishop Holliman, Ralph's 94 year old brother, had planned to attend but had complications that prohibited his visitation from Indiana. The two brothers survive from siblings of seven - Melton (1908-1958), Vena (1909-1990), Euhal (1912-1986), Loudell (1914-1999) and Virginia (1922-2011). Below, Ralph and Bishop Holliman in the 1980s.
Next posting, back to World War II and its impact on the Holliman family of Alabama....
Have questions about Holliman family history? You are invited to join the Hollyman Email List at Hollyman-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com and the Hollyman Family Facebook Page located on Facebook at "Hollyman Family". Post your questions and perhaps one of the dozens Holyman cousins on the list will have an answer. For more information contact Tina Peddie at desabla1@yahoo.com, the list and Facebook manager for Hollyman (and all our various spellings!).
For additional information on Hollimans, check out http://hollimanfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/ .
