Roberta B. Hollis

Roberta Averett Hollis, a resident of Austin, Texas, died January 26, 2012 at the age of 90. She was born on May 4, 1921, to the late Robert Z. and Lessie B. Averett, on the family farm near Lewisville, Arkansas. She was married in 1942 to Hayle Ponder Hollis, with whom she had six children. After high school graduation, Roberta attended business school in Shreveport, Louisiana. She subsequently worked for the federal government in both Arkansas and Washington D.C. Roberta was well-known in South Arkansas as a genealogist. She compiled and published three books on local families, including an extensive history of the Hollis family. Roberta was past president of the Arkansas Genealogy Association and a long-time member of the Ouachita County Library Board. She was a founding member of the Ouachita-Calhoun Genealogical Society and a former editor of the Ouachita-Calhoun Genealogy Society Quarterly. She also was an editor of the Lafayette County Lookback. She was a former president of the Ouachita Historical Society and a member of the board for many years. She was also an editor of the Ouachita County Historical Society Quarterly. After her husband's death in 1959, Roberta and her six children moverd to Camden, Arkansas, where she was employed for 26 years as secretary-agent to the late Mrs. Gressie Carnes. Roberta was preceeded in death by her parents, Robert Z. and Lessie B. Averett, her husband, Hayle Ponder Hollis, sister, Marie Tuberville, and brother Robert Averett. She was also predeceased by two daughters, Jane King of Arkansas, Phyllis Harris of Mississippi, and a son, Thomas Hayle Hollis of California. Survivors include: two sons, Reed Hollis of Austin, Texas; Jim Hollis and his wife, Renee, of Austin, Texas; one daughter, Sondra Hollis Thomas and her husband Joel, of Fayetteville, Arkansas; one son-in-law, Mike King, of Batesville, Arkansas. Survivors also include three nephews, one niece, and eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She also cherished her lifelong friend, Sybil Harrell, and family, of Locust Bayou, Arkansas. Roberta was a member of the Maul Road Church of Christ in Camden for many years. She was most recently a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ in Buda, Texas. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Proctor Funeral Home of Camden, Arkansas. A memorial service will be held at Proctor's on Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends at Proctor's on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Ouachita/Calhoun Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2092, Camden, Arkansas 71711. To sign the online register book visit proctorfuneralhome.com.