Dorothy Jean Holley

Mother Dorothy Jean Person-Holley was born January 12, 1941, in Rondo, Arkansas to the union of Ed and Mae Emma (Wynne) Person. She had two sisters and one brother (Zodie Mae Moore, Willie Lipsey Jr., Edna Lee Sims) all of them proceeded her in death, she was the youngest of the four.

Jean (as she was affectionately called) lived a good life. She was a mother of four, two boys and two girls, in which one son proceeded her in death (James Tyrone Person).

At the age of 19, she decided to stretch her wings and leave Arkansas and moved to East St. Louis, IL where she lived with her favorite uncle, Mr. Dave Wynne and his family for a short period of time. She then found employment, a place of her own and was now ready for her 2 older children to come live with her, that she left with her parents to be taken care of until she was established and settled.

In 1966 she left East St. Louis, IL with her children and moved across the river to St. Louis, Mo not realizing the journey she was on was indeed leading to the plan that God had for her life. In 1972 she met a lady by the name Ethel Lovely who introduced her to “JESUS” she invited her to church consistently and never gave up until she showed up.

On January 13, 1979, on a Sunday morning she caught the bus to Bethesda Temple (5574 Delmar Blvd) where the late Bishop James A. Johnson was the Pastor thinking this would get Sis. Lovely to leave her alone but something got ahold of her. God filled her with the Holy Ghost, leading her to the baptism in Jesus’s name and she never looked back, the world was behind her, and the cross was before her.

In that same year, she took her 2 youngest children and moved to Kansas City, Mo where she attended Christ Temple (Now Victorious Life 3400 Paseo) but being so young in the Lord she felt lost in such a big congregation. She remembered being introduced to the Pastor of Good News Temple (Now Apostolic Church of God) while attending the M.D.C Council in St. Louis,Mo before moving to Kansas City, she went to visit one Sunday and then became a member. Mother Holley worked tirelessly in the church wearing many hats. She was a Choir director, Preacher, Sunday School Teacher, Usher, Cook, Women’s President and a Chauffeur to the late District Elder E.L and Lorene Gordon. She remained a faithful member until her health failed and wouldn’t allow her to attend.

Mother Holley finished her course on September 16, 2023, at home as she desired, where she resided with her youngest daughter.

She leaves to cherish her love and memory: her three children, oldest daughter Verna (Mike) Walker, her oldest son Rolander (Donna) Person Sr. and her baby girl Gwen Pulliam. 3 bonus daughters, Imogene Samuels, Samantha Woods and Sandria Palode (babe). 7 grandchildren Miss Anita, Nickey (her NickumPooh) Erick (Shari) Rolander Jr (Monique) Ashley, Kayla (Armanti)

and her bonus granddaughter Kimberly Ferguson. 14 great grandchildren, 20 great-great grandchildren, her favorite cousin Mattie Phillips and a host of nieces and nephews.

This lady will be greatly missed, she’s another soldier gone home to be with the Lord.