Funeral services were held Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, at Oak Ridge M. B. Church, New Hebron, for Mrs. Rita Carol Gardner-Holliday, 51, who died Saturday, July 29, 2017, at Jeff Davis Community Hospital.

Rev. Eric Dixson, pastor, officiated with interment following in the church cemetery.  Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Rita Carol Holliday was born to the late James L. and Aree Gardner.  She was a member of Oak Ridge M. B. Church and served in choir member, program secretary and youth leader of the youth department.  She was married to Timothy Holliday and to this union, two children were born.

Mrs. Holliday received her education from West Union High School and Hinds Community College and Mississippi State University.  She was lead teacher at Crossgates Methodist Children Center.

She was preceded in death by brother, James Gardner Jr., father and mother-in-law, Rubin and Velma Holliday.

She is survived by: husband, Timothy Holliday, two children, Jaren (Lynetta) Holliday of Monticello; daughter, Keyanna Holliday of Harrisville; two grandchildren; step-daughter, Tamaria Luscious of Jackson; fourteen siblings, Carolyn Gardner of New Hebron; Mary Feazell of Detroit, Michigan, Calvin (Carol) Longino of New Hebron, Marcus (Pamela) Feazell of New Hebron; Curtis (Edell) Feazell of New Hebron, Deborah (Darnell) thompson of Pascagoula, Gwendolyn (Frank) Harper of New Hebron, Vina (Calvin) Bowman of Jackson, Percilla (Johnnie) Walker of Prentiss, Keith (LaShawn) Gardner of Gulfport, Scott Gardner of Prentiss, Sherrell (Chris) Turner of Mendenhall, Arlicia (Undray) Gardner of Prentiss, and Derrick (Stephanie) Gardner of Prentiss; step-mother, Minyon Gardner; many other relatives and friends.