Memories of Ophelia

Photos and stories from the people who knew her. If you have one, add yours at the bottom of this page.

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Ophelia with Alyssa at Alyssa’s ceremony.
Ophelia with her grandchildren, Alyssa, Kiyana, and Zay.
Ophelia with her granddaughter Alyssa.
Ophelia with her grandchildren, Alyssa, Kiyana, and Zay.
Ophelia with Shon and Carly.
Ophelia with her sister Denise Woodard.
Ophelia with her friend Grace.
Ophelia with a cousin.
Ophelia with her cousins Ceola and Daisy and her aunt Hattie Bee.
Ophelia at her 65th birthday brunch, with Sharon Chrisler, Angel Evans’s mother.
Ophelia at her 65th birthday brunch.
Ophelia at her 65th birthday brunch, with Tyler Diaz holding the balloons.
Janerick Holmes, Tyler Diaz, and Ophelia at Ophelia’s 65th birthday brunch.
Ophelia with her son, Janerick, at his NYU graduation.

The memorial

October 14, 2026, in Jackson, Mississippi.

The memorial, Jackson Memorial Funeral Service Chapel.

The repass, The Heights by Urban Foxes.

Kimberly Jones Merchant, Janerick Holmes, and Tyler Diaz

Janerick Holmes and Dorothy Collins-King

Ophelia

JanericksonDorothyauntJanerick’s great-aunt

Janerick Holmes, Kathy, and Nig

Tyler Diaz and Kathy

Janerick Holmes and Angel Evans

Ophelia

JanericksonAngelmother of her
grandchildren

Denise Woodard and Henry Holmes

Ophelia

DenisesisterJanerick’s auntHenrybrotherJanerick’s uncle

Marian Holmes, Denise Woodard, and Henry Holmes

Ophelia

MariannieceJanerick’s cousinDenisesisterJanerick’s auntHenrybrotherJanerick’s uncle

Denise Gbassage and Denise Woodard

Ophelia

Denise G.nieceJanerick’s cousinDenise W.sisterJanerick’s aunt

Captions forthcoming

Curtis Phillips and Hazel “Tootsie” Bell

Ophelia

CurtiscousinJanerick’s cousin

The guest book.

Across the country

Around Jackson

Huntington Beach, CA

Tyler A. Diaz

Chicago, IL

Pastor Marvin Hunter, Grace Memorial Baptist Church

Westchester, IL

Kathy

Montgomery, AL

Tara White

Greenville, MS

Kimberly Jones Merchant

Canton, MS

Vicki Brown

Clinton, MS

George, Tosha, Gabriel, and Imani Moore

Pearl, MS

Shonda Sessums

Brandon, MS

Linda Dixon

Jackson, MS

Terri Young
Tiffany Walker-West
Debra Walker
Curtis, Jan, and Theresa Phillips
Sandra Dean
Angela Tucker Walker
Willie and Carolyn Wilks
Brenda Brooks-Hughes
Geneva Brooks-Terry
Denise and Dewayne Woodard

No city written

Earl and Viola Washington
Bettie and Willie
Dorothy King
Gloria Smith
Roberta Killingsford
T.C. and Claudine Moore
Veronica, LaRonda, Earline, and Bernadette
Bobby and Billye M., Mt. Nebo
Rev. Daryl Phillips
Michael and Catherine Nickels
Rev. Gregory Weathersby

The cousins

Then, and now.

Janerick Holmes and Latoya Walters as children at a birthday party — Janerick Holmes and Latoya Walters, then

Janerick Holmes, Denise Gbassage, Latoya Walters, and Marian Holmes at the repass — Janerick Holmes, Denise Gbassage, Latoya Walters, and Marian Holmes, October 2026

Janerick Holmes, Denise Gbassage, Latoya Walters, and Marian Holmes

Janerick Holmes, Denise Gbassage, Latoya Walters, and Marian Holmes

Ophelia

JanericksonDenisenieceJanerick’s cousinLatoyanieceJanerick’s cousinMariannieceJanerick’s cousin

Janerick Holmes, Denise Gbassage, Latoya Walters, and Marian Holmes

Ophelia

JanericksonDenisenieceJanerick’s cousinLatoyanieceJanerick’s cousinMariannieceJanerick’s cousin

Denise Gbassage and Marian Holmes

Ophelia

DenisenieceJanerick’s cousinMariannieceJanerick’s cousin

Janerick Holmes, Denise Gbassage, Latoya Walters, and Marian Holmes

Ophelia

JanericksonDenisenieceJanerick’s cousinLatoyanieceJanerick’s cousinMariannieceJanerick’s cousin

The grandchildren

Kiyana, Alyssa, and Zay as children, stacked top to bottom — Top to bottom: Kiyana, Alyssa, and Zay

Ophelia

KiyanagranddaughterJanerick’s nieceAlyssagranddaughterJanerick’s nieceZaygrandsonJanerick’s nephew

Makhigreat-grandsonJanerick’s great-nephew

Ophelia and Makhi

Makhi

Then, and now.

Kiyana as a toddler, posing on a sidewalk — Kiyana, then

1 of 2

1 of 6

Alyssa in her school picture — Alyssa, then

1 of 3

Zay as a child, in a beach portrait — Zay, then

1 of 3

In their words

Patsy Tennon with her husband, Bob Tennon — Patsy and Bob

My sister was the strongest woman I have known. She built several businesses on her own. She loved God and her family.

Ophelia gave me the nickname Teacup because of my ears.

Patsy Tennonher sister

Dorothy Collins-King with Janerick Holmes at the repass — Dorothy and Janerick

I so enjoyed hanging with Ophelia. We traveled to Disney World, I took her for chemo treatments and my husband & I helped her move to Canton when she bought her house. Ophelia was an awesome teacher and preacher. My niece knew the Bible. I will always love her and miss her.

My family gave me the nickname Dot.

Dorothy Collins-Kingher aunt

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Family: if you’re related to Ophelia, the form also has room for family tree details, which go to Janerick. Names, including parents and children, may be added to the Family page, where living relatives are listed by name only. Birthdates and contact details are never posted.