William Jordan Hollowell

William Jordan Hollowell, 90, of 696 Daniels Road, Corapeake, NC, died peacefully Tuesday, August 13, 2013 in his home. Mr. Hollowell was born in Gates County on June 28, 1923, and was the son of the late Grover C. and Lillie Thomas Mathias Hollowell. A retired farmer, who tended the land that had been in his family for generations, he was a life-long member of Eureka Baptist Church where his great-grandfather and his great-great-grandparents were three of the 14 charter members. A veteran of World War II, he volunteered for service with the United States Navy, and participated in combat operations in Luzon, Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, New Guinea, Guam, and both Kwajalean and Saipan, in the Marshall Islands. Mr. Hollowell enjoyed a love of history, and especially of northeastern North Carolina and the many generations of his family and other neighboring families in Gates County. And he enjoyed sharing that history with young people in the area and with his family. Surviving is his loving and devoted wife of nearly sixty-five years, Nell West Hollowell. He is also survived by daughters, Kaye H. Barker of Edenton, Dr. Jean Hollowell of Albany, NY, and Sherry H. Epstein and husband, Ben, of Atlanta, GA; his son, Al Hollowell and wife, Sheila, of Wilmington; five grandchildren, Robert H. Barker, Jonathan W. Hollowell, Jennifer S. Kirk, Micah W. Epstein, and Dara S. Epstein; a great-grandchild, Coy E. Shepard; and his dear niece, Joy H. Hofler and husband, Jimmie. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Elton C. and Helen Hollowell, and by a son-in-law, Robert L. Barker. Funeral services will be held Friday at 4:00 p.m. in Eureka Baptist Church by the Reverend Billy Presley, the Reverend Mickey Willard and the Reverend Cameron Currin. Burial with military honors will follow in the church cemetery, with Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, handling arrangements. Friends may join the family in the church fellowship hall following services. The family wishes to express a special thanks to Mr. Hollowell's caregivers, Mildred Dent, Sharon Hayer, Joan Goodman, Jessica Riddick and Pam Rollack and to the very special nurses with Albemarle Home Care & Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests consideration of memorial contributions to Eureka Baptist Church, P.O. Box 68, Corapeake, NC 27926, or the Corapeake-Sunbury Fire Dept., P.O. Box 115, Corapeake, NC 27926, or to Albemarle Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 189, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.