Gerald Wayne Hollis, age 91, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2026, surrounded by the family he loved so dearly.

Born on July 8, 1935 in Langdale, AL, he lived a remarkable life centered on faith, family, hard work, and service to others. For 74 years, he shared his life with his beloved wife, Carolyne Smith Hollis. Their enduring marriage was the foundation of a family that grew to include four children, 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Of all his accomplishments, his family remained his greatest source of pride and joy. Wayne graduated in 1951 from Cliff High School in Opelika, AL. and served in the United States Army and National Guard.

Affectionately known as “Big Daddy,” he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. His influence reached across five generations, and the lessons he taught often through the way he lived rather than through words will continue to shape his family for generations to come.

A respected businessman and entrepreneur, he built his career in the family-owned furniture business established in 1952. Through decades of dedication, integrity, and hard work, he helped build more than a successful business; he established a legacy. He believed that a person’s word mattered, that customers should be treated like family, and that success carried with it a responsibility to others. Those principles became hallmarks of both his business and his life.

Yet those who knew him best understood that his greatest legacy could never be measured by professional accomplishments. It is found in the family he built, the marriage he cherished, the example he set, and the countless lives made better simply because he was part of them.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Carolyne Smith Hollis; their four children, Cindy Hollis (Tony Martinez), Sam Taylor Hollis (Lisa), Tootsie Hollis Allen (Arvia), Kelly Hollis Crabtree (Ken), his sister Karen Hollis Langley; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren;  a loving extended family and beloved dog, Choco.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Hollis and Lula Pearl Hollis, his sister Peggy June Hollis, and brother Jon Taylor Hollis.

His family is deeply grateful for the extraordinary number of years they were blessed to share with him. While his absence leaves an immeasurable void, his presence will remain in the traditions he began, the values he passed down, the business he built, and the generations of family who are proud to carry his legacy forward.

A life well lived. A family deeply loved. A legacy that will endure for generations.