Rita Sims Holland

July 8, 1931 — Feb. 26, 2015

NATCHEZ — Funeral services for Rita Sims Holland, 83, of Natchez, who died Thursday, Feb. 25, 2015, at her residence, will be at 1 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joe Xavier officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 12 p.m. Sunday until time of service at the funeral home.

Holland was born on July 8, 1931, in Natchez, the daughter of James Gilbert Coulliard Sims and Gladys Swain Sims.

She attended the University of Southern Mississippi and Co-Lin Community College of Natchez. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Vidalia, where she sang in the choir. She was also a member of the Colonial Dames XVII Century, Daughters of American Colonists, Daughters of the Confederacy, Daughters of the American Revolution Williams Dunbar Chapter, 1st Families of Mississippi and St. Mary Altar Society. She was also and Ambassador for the Natchez Chamber of Commerce.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, James “Jim” Holland; son, James Clay Holland; step father, Wendel Winko; great-grandson, Damien McDonald; and two sisters, Katherine “Kitty” Koerber Shields.

Survivors include one daughter; Rita Fuglaar and husband, James, of Houston; one son, Thomas “Tommy” Holland and wife, Liz, of Lake City, Fla.; six grandchildren, Alexander Fuglaar of Houston, Katherine Fuglaar of Houston, Amy Holland Hanks of Poplar Bluff, MO., James Holland of Lake City, Fla., Jessica Holland McDonald of Jacksonville and Francis Holland Driggers of Bradenton, Fla.; 13 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be James Koerber, Paul Koerber, Alex Fuglaar, Micah Hanks, James Holland and Brint Anderson. Honorary pallbearers will be Cliff Mann, Steve Mann and Kenny Mann. Memorials may be made to Pleasant Acres Day School, Natchez Adams Humane Society or to a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to laridfh.com.