Mary Lucille Dozier Holliday

Mary Lucille Dozier Holliday, a reciter of poems and stories, a singer of songs, an innate teacher, and a matriarch to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren died on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Macon, Georgia. 

The only child of the late Lucius Lindsay Dozier and Lucy Specht Dozier, Mrs. Holliday was born in Atlanta, Georgia on August 28, 1926. Due to her father’s work in government defense construction, the family moved to Macon in 1941. Mary graduated from A.L. Miller High School in 1943 and attended the University of Georgia, spending the summers during her college years with her family where they had relocated in Dublin, Georgia, and Jacksonville and Cocoa Beach, Florida.  While at UGA, Mary was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and Theta Sigma Omicron Honorary Journalistic Fraternity. She graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1947 at which time her family returned to Macon. The young Miss Dozier taught first grade for 3 ½ happy years at the Florence Bernd School where the principal, Mrs. Little, greatly influenced her life.

Mary married Dr. Peter Osborne Holliday, Jr. in 1949 and began a family of her own. She was a member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church for a time where she served as president of the Women of the Church and served on the Altar Guild. Mary was also delighted to serve as president of the Alexander IV School Parent Teacher Association for a year, beginning in 1963. She was a member of the Mary Hammond Washington chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Town and Country Garden Club. She was also a member of the League of Women Voters and the History Club of Macon, serving two terms as president of both.

Mrs. Holliday is predeceased by her husband, Peter Osborne Holliday, Jr. to whom she was married for 57 years and her daughter-in-law, Jeanne Jones Holliday, wife of her son, Dr. Peter Holliday, III. She is also predeceased by her dear friend and aide of over 60 years, Curtis Mason.

She is survived by her loving family: four children, Dr. Peter Osborne Holliday, III (Karen), Lucy Riley Holliday, Dr. Lindsay Dozier Holliday (Marie), all of Macon, and Mary Dozier Holliday Byrd (Dr. Ben F. Byrd, III) of Nashville, TN. She is survived also by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Peter O. Holliday, IV (Charlotte) of Charlotte, NC and their children, Peter O. Holliday, V “Behr,” Brenner, and John Isaac; Dorothy Holliday Peterson (Kort) of Macon and their children, Rosemary, Oscar, and Beatrice; Lucy Faith Collins Payne, Ph.D. (Daniel) of Brooklyn, NY and their children, Edward and Martha; Jane Collins Boutwell (Andrew) of Tucker, GA and their children, Elisha, Anna, Salter, and Lucy; Mary Collins Guice of Macon and her children, Asa, Stella, and Susannah; Elizabeth “Betty” Collins of Macon; Dr. Fairchild “Faira” Holliday Payne (Jason) of Appling, Georgia and their daughter Faye; Caroline Lindsay Byrd and Benjamin Franklin Byrd, IV of Nashville, TN. She is also survived by her caregivers, Michael Lester, Mary Robinson, and Bridgett Davis whose kindness and cheerful spirits were greatly appreciated.

A private graveside service will be held at Riverside Cemetery. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy consider making a donation in Mary Dozier Holliday’s name to the Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road, Macon, GA 31210 or the Federated Garden Center, P.O. Box 5225, Macon, GA 31208.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s on Cherry Street, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 765 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 has charge of the arrangements.

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