Graveside services were held Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at Springhill Baptist Church for Mrs. Lessie Mae Gholar, 96, who died Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, at Wesley Medical Center, Hattiesburg.

Rev. Jerry Gholar officiated with Johnson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Lessie Mae Gholar was born to the late Cephus and Eunice Green.  She was reared in the Koko community of Marion county.

She moved to Prentiss, where she married the late Oscar Hawthorne.

She later married Vander L. Gholar Sr. in 1955, and moved to the Springhill community.  She joined Springhill Baptist Church where she served until her health failed.

Mother as she was called by her children instilled work ethics in them, setting an example working at Oakley Elementary School, Sophia Sutton Headstart, 4-way Truckstop, KLH Industries and was a caregiver for the elderly.

She was preceded in death by two children, James Hawthorne and Mary Jean Keyes and two grandchildren, Gail and Raymond Keyes.

She is survived by daughters, Elois (Anthony) Merrero of New Orleans, Louisiana and Lela Gholar of Madison; sons, J. W. (Rita) Hawthorne of Franklinton, Louisiana, Donald (Sylvia) Gholar of Angie, Louisiana, Tommie Gholar of Jackson, Larry (Mary) Gholar of Hattiesburg; Oscar Lomax and Rev. Jerry (Barbara) Gholar both of Prentiss; 49 grandchildren; 72 great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.