Anita Hollingsworth Pilgreen

Published 10:21 am Tuesday, January 13, 2015

A special celebration of Anita Hollingsworth Pilgreen’s life will be held on April 10 in Brookhaven at Riverwood Memorial Park. Riverwood Family Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Pilgreen died Dec. 27, 2014, in Plano, Texas after a brief illness. She was born in Anniston, Alabama to Ila Pearl Rogers and Efford Lawrence Hollingsworth.

While a student at Auburn, she met her one true love Clyde, and they were married on Nov. 22, 1946, during his first year of veterinary school. Following his residency, they moved to Brookhaven in June 1950 where Clyde opened his first animal clinic and where they raised their three daughters.

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Anita was involved in numerous activities and volunteer organizations during her years in Brookhaven. She loved to play bridge and was an active member of the Luncheon Bridge Club, begun in 1956 with a group of women who would become lifelong friends. She was also a charter member of the Brookhaven Junior Auxiliary, serving faithfully for decades, and an active member of First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years. Anita’s love of classical music led to her active membership in the Matinee Musicale, a Brookhaven music club. Throughout her lifetime, Anita demonstrated a heart for serving others. This was seen in her longtime membership in the Willing Hearts Circle of King’s Daughters and Sons. She served on the board of the silver cross Nursing Home, as well as on the board of directors of the King’s Daughters Hospital.

After Clyde passed away, Anita moved to Frisco in October 2009 to be near her daughter, Pam. She moved into The Lodge, a beautiful assisted living facility, where she was residing at the time of her death. She adapted well to her new home and participated in weekly bridge games, music concerts, bingo games, movies, Bible classes, church and daily visits with her daughter. Anita was loved by residents and staff alike at The Lodge for her consistent and beautiful smile, kindness and positive outlook, her encouragement to other residents, her deep faith and unwavering courage. Music was a passion in Anita’s life, whether listening to Clyde playing the drums in their den, playing her baby grand piano in Brookhaven, attending jazz and classical concerts in Dallas or just listening to Andrea Bocelli CDs in her Frisco apartment. An annual highlight she recently enjoyed was The Lodge Christmas party with a 21-piece orchestra featuring Big Band music both she and Clyde had loved.

Anita always chose joy in her life and will be greatly missed by those fortunate to have known her. Her family wishes to offer special thanks to her excellent physician, Dr. Mahenaaz Haq, the incredible caring staff at The Lodge, especially Terry Abshire, and her dear friend Betty Ann Perkins who kept the cards, letters and phone calls coming these past five years.

Preceding her in death were her parents; and sister, Mary Elva Hollingsworth Hill.

Survivors are her loving daughters, Pamela Palmer and husband, John, of Frisco, Texas, Michele Williams and husband, Randy, in Somerset, Virgina and Patrice Dell and husband, Bill, in Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandsons, Ryan Dell and wife, Caitlin, Preston Dell, Taylor Williams; her godchild, Emily Assink Hayley; brother, Dr. Joseph Rogers Hollingsworth; and sister, Lenora Hollingsworth Brownlee.

For those desiring, the family suggests memorials to Silver Cross Home Board, P. O. Box 843, Brookhaven, MS 39602, (earmarked for Day Room renovation) or The Barker Adoption Foundation, 7979 Old Georgetown Rd. 1st Fl., Bethesda, MD 20814. Both of these organizations support activities that were close to Anita’s heart.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on Anita’s name to leave a comment.