SETH BEASON HOLLOWELL
Jan. 30, 1912-March 12, 2010
Seth Beason Hollowell, 98, went to be with the Lord he served so faithfully on Friday at Kitty Askins Hospice Center surrounded by his family.
A service to celebrate Seth's life will be held Monday at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home with the Rev. Dann Patrick, the Rev. Jean Hood and the Rev. Dr. John Dutton officiating. Interment will follow in Willow Dale Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Rose and the Rev. Jerry Mitchell officiating. The family will receive friends today from 5 until 7 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home and other times at his home.
Seth was raised on a farm 10 miles west of Goldsboro by Quaker parents, David and Eugenia Hollowell. In 1934, he got a job driving an oil distribution truck for Thompson-Wooten Oil Company. While working at this job, he met Mae Hare of the Saulston community. They were married April 12, 1936, and of this marriage two children were born, Edward Errol and Sylvia. In October, 1938, Seth went into the oil distribution business with H.M. Howell. In 1945, he organized his own company, Seth B. Hollowell Oil Company. He started business in a small, one- room building at Adamsville, which was moved later to the corner of Berkeley Boulevard and Ash Street extension.
In June, 1963, Seth's oil distribution business grew to a point that he purchased additional property on Berkeley Boulevard and converted grain storage silos into a modern office building, which was known as "The Hollowell Building." On the first floor was the office for Seth B. Hollowell Oil Company and in the basement was a chapel where he and his wife organized a Bible Study and prayer group that met every Tuesday night for 25 years. It became known as the Tuesday Night Prayer Group and nearby was their church, Daniels Memorial United Methodist Church. Seth served as Sunday School Superintendent and was certified as a lay speaker. He served on the administrative board and was an active member of the Methodist Men's Fellowship. Seth was a member of the Ruritan Club, the Goldsboro Masonic Lodge No. 634 A.F. and A.M. and was a Shriner. Seth was one of a group of men who organized the first Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship in Goldsboro and he also helped organize the Men's Prayer Breakfast Group that meets at Wilber's Barbecue every Tuesday morning.
In 1954, he decided to enter politics and ran for County Commissioner. After winning this position, he served for three two-year terms. In 1960, there was a vacancy in the State Senate. He ran for that office and won. He served in the North Carolina Senate for two years. Because of health reasons, he decided not to run for re-election. Along with his tireless commitment to help others, Seth and his wife became concerned about the need for a nursing home for older people. They and Mr. and Mrs. E.N. Troutman set their goal to build a nursing home. In 1959, the Forest Hill Rest Home, located on Highway 70 By-pass, was opened and was later operated as Guardian Care Nursing Home. Seth and his partner realized the importance of developing the area surrounding the nursing home. They subdivided 70 acres and sold lots to prospective home builders and it is now known as the Forest Hill subdivision. Seth and Mae also saw a need for a place of recreation in Goldsboro and they wanted some place for the whole family to go and be in a good environment. In 1961, he built the Boulevard Bowling Lanes located on Berkeley Boulevard where it still remains today.
Seth grew up on a farm and he never lost his love for the farm. He owned a farm in the Saulston area and working on that farm was his hobby. For many years he operated houses for turkeys and later chickens. Seth was instrumental in providing the land that joined his farm for the development of the Wayne County Wildlife Club.
After retiring in the early '70s, he devoted his time to his family, friends, and the church, as well as tending his large garden that he enjoyed sharing with his family and friends. Seth will be remembered as a wonderful Christian example and his dedication of serving others was returned to him in his years of declining health by his family and some special caregivers.
Seth is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Edward Errol and Linda Hollowell of the Saulston Community; his daughter, Sylvia H. Taylor of Goldsboro; his sisters, Hilda H. Howell and Evelyn H. Rose, both of Goldsboro; his beloved grandchildren, Lynn Taylor and wife, Tammy, Brian Taylor and wife, Renee, Greg Hollowell and wife, Varina, Marc Taylor and wife, Laura, Susan T. Long and husband, Darrell, and Marlena H. Edwards and husband, Michael; and his loving great-grandchildren, Lynsey Taylor, Jared Taylor, Reagan Taylor, Ethan Taylor, Jolene Hollowell, Byron Hollowell, Wesley Hollowell, Marcy Taylor, Garyn Taylor, Jackson Taylor, Taylor Long, Hayden Long, Seth Edwards and Leah Edwards.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Mae Hare Hollowell, his son-in-law, Gary Taylor; his brothers, Virgil Hollowell and Bill Hollowell; and a sister, Sarah Elizabeth Hollowell.
With loving gratitude, the family would like to express a special thanks to the doctors and caregivers that showed him love through the years, especially those with Personal Homecare Solutions, Britthaven Nursing Home, Wayne Memorial Hospital and Kitty Askins Hospice Center. The family would also like to express their love and appreciation to caregivers, Julie Swan, Minnie Daniels, Pearlie Brown and Kim Carter. You made his days at home and at the nursing home very meaningful and he enjoyed the attention you shared with him each day.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Seth's memory to Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, NC 27534, or to a church or to a charity of choice or perform an act of kindness with Seth in mind.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 14, 2010 11:41 AM