Elizabeth “Libby” Shaifer Hollingsworth

Published 12:00 am Monday, July 4, 2016

PORT GIBSON — Funeral services for Elizabeth “Libby” Shaifer Hollingsworth, 83, who died peacefully July 2, 2016, at her home in Port Gibson, surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with kidney cancer, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church of Port Gisbson.

Burial will follow with a graveside service at Wintergreen Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Hollingsworth Home at 1001 Church Street, Port Gibson, and 9 a.m. until time of services Wednesday at the church.

A memorial service will be at a later date in Connecticut.

Elizabeth Shaifer Hollingsworth was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi on June 13, 1933. Her parents were Sanfrid Blomquist Shaifer and Dorothy Davidson Shaifer. She was raised in the Delta and graduated from Leland High School. She attended Peabody Teacher’s College and Southwestern at Memphis —Rhodes College — where she graduated with a degree in Bible. While at Southwestern, she was a member of the Tri-Delta Sorority and continued to be an active alumnus throughout the years.

After college she worked for the First Presbyterian Church in Monticello, Ark., as the director of christian education and an advisor at the Vera Lloyd Home for Children. She also served as a delegate to the conference of the Presbyterian Association of Children’s Homes.

On Dec. 22, 1956, she married Al Hollingsworth. Her husband’s work took them to Natchez, Hanford, Calif., and Connecticut. In 1976, they bought an historic home in Guilford, Conn., which they enjoyed restoring.

Libby was a long-time member of The First Presbyterian Church of New Haven, Conn., where she was ordained a ruling elder and a delegate from the New England Presbytery to the 200th General Assembly.

Additionally, Libby was the Director of the North Guilford Nursery School, president of the Yale New Haven Hospital Auxiliary and a member of the board of trustees of Yale New Haven Hospital.

Upon retirement with her husband, they relocated to Port Gibson, where she was active in historic preservation, Main Street programs on the local and national level, board member of The Mississippi Heritage Trust, The Advisory Board of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, founding member of the Port Gibson Heritage Trust, board member of the Mississippi Historic Society, a strong supporter of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, a champion of the preservation of the Port Gibson Battlefield and a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Natchez.

Libby’s passions included documenting the history of her family and Claiborne County, reading, socializing, giving tours, flower arranging and spending summers and Christmas in Connecticut with family and friends. She and her husband Al became Mississippi Master Gardeners in 2011.  Libby could often be seen taking care of her yard, a point of pride for her.

Libby was genuinely devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren. Her bright smile, contagious laughter, and positive spirit were such a gift to everyone.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Sanfrid “Sammy” Davidson Shaifer.

She is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Al Hollingsworth; two daughters, Allison Hollingsworth Moxey and husband Andrew and Ann Hollingsworth Weeden; one son, Christopher Alton Hollingsworth and wife Rosemary; and seven grandchildren, Tyler Andrew Moxey, Ashley Shaifer Moxey, Todd Davidson Moxey, Alexander John Weeden, Samuel Bellenoit Weeden, Colin Andrew Hollingsworth and Julia Elizabeth Hollingsworth; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The family wishes to thank all of the staff and caregivers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Claiborne County Medical Center and Camellia Home Hospice.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Action to Cure Kidney Cancer, 150 West 75th St., Suite 4, New York, NY 10023;

Port Gibson Heritage Trust, (Tree Fund or Port Gibson Battlefield Fund), P.O. Box 751, Port Gibson, MS 39150; The First Presbyterian Church of Natchez, Mississippi, 400 State St., Natchez, MS 39120.