Denzil Montgomery Hollis Jr., age 79, a longtime resident of Foley, Ala., passed away peacefully on Jan. 15, 2016.
He was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on April 26, 1936 and was raised in Mobile, where he graduated from Murphy High School. He went to the University of Alabama, where he graduated with a master’s degree.
He married Brenda Wood of Mobile on March 28, 1957. They had been married almost 59 years.
Denzil coached many sports at Foley High School, including football, basketball, baseball, golf and track; however, basketball became his love. He led his team to the state playoffs in Tuscaloosa.
During the 1970s, he coached basketball for 10 years at McGill-Toolen. McGill refers to these years as the “Glory Years” as he took multiple teams to the state playoffs.
He loved his players, and did his best to instill the life lessons of hard work and overcoming adversity that helped shape his players’ lives.
Denzil was an avid fan of Alabama football. His grandmother lived just two blocks away from Bryant-Denny Stadium. Even in his last days, he responded to the news of another Alabama National Championship with a tight squeeze of your hand.
Denzil believed in Coach Bear Bryant’s philosophies of if you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards. “I have tried to teach them to show class, to have pride and to display character.”
Denzil was the owner of businesses in Gulf Shores for many years.
He and his wife, Brenda, later lived part time in Tampa, Fla., where they had a wonderful life with friends, playing golf and other activities at their clubhouse.
He loved his family and friends, and was a great father, grandfather and husband.
Preceding him in death was his father, Denzil M. Hollis; and mother, Eleanor K. Hollis.
Surviving are his wife, Brenda of Foley; daughter, Alicia H. Bold (Hammond) of Thomson, Ga.; and son, Kevin C. Hollis (Susan) of Memphis, Tenn.; his four grandchildren, Hammond Bold Jr., Elizabeth Bold Tudor (Charles), Rebecca Hollis and Christopher Hollis; brother, Jack K. Hollis (Janice); and nephew, Matthew K. Hollis; two great-grandchildren, Shaye Patterson and Samuel H. Tudor; and in-laws, Mary and Charles Wood of Mobile; and brother-in-law, Bill Wood of Mobile.
Funeral Services will be held from Pine Rest Funeral Home and Memorial Park on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. Visitation is at 1 p.m., and interment will follow in Memorial Park at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to First Baptist Church of Foley, Ala., or The Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.
Arrangements by Pine Rest Funeral Home, Foley.
