Dr. Neola Lee Hollingsworth Cleveland

April 30, 1926 - January 12, 2018

Dr. Neola Lee Hollingsworth Cleveland died January 12, 2018, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Booneville. She was born April 30, 1926, in Golden, MS, to Herbert Owen Hollingsworth and Flossie Magdalene Hale Hollingsworth. After graduating from Belmont High School, Belmont, MS, as valedictorian in 1944, she went to Decatur, AL, to live with and care for her elderly grandparents, Oscar Owen and Minnie Lee Fant Hollingsworth. While there she received temporary employment in the engineering department of Ingalls Shipyard. When Ingalls failed to receive an expected contract, she found permanent employment at Decatur Transit and affiliates. Her title was Office Manager, but duties stretched in every direction including transporting Werner Von Braun to Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL, on his arrival to Alabama. She remained there until she married Dr. Webster Cleveland, Jr., in Belmont in 1956. They moved to Booneville where she became employed by the old Prentiss County Home Bank. She remained there until the birth of her first child. As a favor to the People Bank and Trust Company, she trained a bookkeeper for them in the interim. In 1968, she attended Northeast Mississippi Junior College for two years and then earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Blue Mountain College. She started working on a Master’s degree at the University of Mississippi and unexpectedly entered the elementary teaching field at Wheeler Attendance Center. She taught school for a total of twenty-three years at several schools including Booneville and Thrasher and also served as a school administrator. In the meantime, she earned a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in School Administration in 1978. She was active in community affairs, being a charter member of the Booneville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Booneville Town and Country Garden Club, and the Booneville Golf and Country Club. She was an original member of the board of directors of the Westside Community Center and served in all offices in the Intercivic Club Council. During that time, she was the director of the local Miss Hospitality pageant many years. She was a lifetime member of the George Ed Allen Library. She helped her husband charter the Brice’s Crossroads Chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the William Gray Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution. She was a girl scout leader for many years and a cub scout leader. Neola was a member of the First Baptist Church where she served in the nursery for many years, served as the youth department chairman, a Sunday School teacher, a Bible School worker, a class secretary, helped organize the first couples’ class, a committee member of several committees, and recently a receiver of Samaritan Purse Shoeboxes. She was an active member of the Booneville Pilot Club since January, 1957, and was proud of her perfect attendance record until her death. She held all local offices and had served seven years as president. She was a Woman’s Club member since 1960 and held local offices, in addition to being district secretary. She earned the title of Clubwoman of the Year one year. She was a member of Gamma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Iota, held all local offices, and served as Mississippi President. She was an active member of Natchez Trace Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution having served as regent several years, held many other offices, and most recently as Registrar. She was a member of D.T. Beall Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and had served as president many times, other local offices, and additionally in each state office other than the presidency. She was a member of U.S. Daughters of 1812, Chapter Major General Thomas Pinckney, Tupelo, MS, and served as President many years. She was a member of the Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century, Hernando de Soto Chapter, Tupelo, MS, and served as President many years. She had been a member of the North Mississippi Medical Auxillary for many years. She was selected Prentiss County’s Outstanding Citizen in 2012. She enjoyed traveling, genealogy, working jigsaw puzzles, walking, needlecrafts, reading, and bridge. She loved her family and a good laugh. She is survived by her three children, Dr. Craig Webster Cleveland (Donna) of Booneville, Candace Lee Cleveland Forbes (Tom) of Tomball, TX, and Dr. Kerry Owen Cleveland, Olive Branch, MS; seven grandchildren: Cameron Webster Cleveland, Constance Lee Cleveland, Anna Lee Forbes, James Callahan Forbes, Bailey Elizabeth Forbes, Lily Marisa Cleveland, and Daisy Rivana Myers; two sisters, Rebecca Jewel Hollingsworth Parrish Harrell, Brandon, MS, and Patricia Ruth Hollingsworth Herring, Lakeland, FL, one sister-in-law, Johnnie Faye Allen Hollingsworth, Brandon, MS, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, parents-in-law, five siblings, and an infant son. Pallbearers will be C.L. Davidson, Bobby Griffin, Mark McAnally, Trent Moore, John David Price, David West, Jason White, Billy Williams, and Don Williams. Honorary pallbearers are members of the Berea Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church. Visitation will be 11:00 AM January 15, 2018, followed by services at 1:00 PM at Booneville First Baptist Church with Dr. Lynn Jones officiating. Burial will be in the Booneville Cemetery. Memorials may be made to each person’s choice.