A precious soul full of laughter

The Steps of the Righteous are Ordered by the Lord:
Terri Lolita Hollis was born on the 26th day of July, 1963, in Fordyce, Arkansas, to Mr. L. Hollis and Ms. Fannie Mae Mahan.
Terri’s family moved to the Pacific Northwest when she was a young child. Her formative education included: early education in Everett, WA and secondary school in Tacoma, WA. Terri excelled in school and graduated a year early from Foss High School in Tacoma, WA. She later attained an AA degree from Pierce College, and then earned her CNA certification from Bates Technical College. Terri’s passion was serving others. Terri worked as a rehabilitative and grief counselor, and a certified nurse assistant.
Terri was also passionate about serving the Lord. As a youth and young adult, Terri was a member of New Jerusalem COGIC where she met the Lord, was active in the local and state choirs, and met many of the friends she maintained to the end. She later became a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church and then St. John Missionary Baptist Church. It was at St. John Missionary Baptist Church where Terri’s gift of ministry excelled. Music was a large part of her life. There she worked as an assistant choir director of the Chapel and Mass Choir, the director of the Young Adult Choir, and lastly the Music Director. There she served faithfully, for more than 22 years.
Anyone who knew Terri knew her as a true friend, the life of any party, and one who would bring a person to tears, due to laughter, in any setting or situation. Terri also loved her family, especially her children. She’d often say; “that my greatest work was raising two children who obtained graduate level degrees and didn’t bring me any trouble.”
She was preceded in death by her mother, Fannie Mae Bradley and her grandparents: Duffie and Lola Mae Mahan.
To cherish her memory, she leaves behind: her oldest child (son), James Antonio Joyner of Tacoma, WA; her youngest child (daughter), Destini Nicole Kirkwood, son-in-law, Orthell LaMarr Kirkwood, only granddaughter Addisen LaVon-Mae Kirkwood of Seaview, WA; goddaughter, Amiri Duncan of Tacoma, WA; grandfather, David Peterson of Flint Michigan; stepfather, Frank Bradley of Gary, Indiana; and a host of family and friends. She will be greatly missed.

Visitation 3-7pm Friday November 1, 2019 at St. John Church Transformation Ministries International 2001 S J St, Tacoma, WA 98405.

Funeral services 11am Saturday November 2, 2019 at St. John Church Transformation Ministries International.