Mary Ann Hollis

Mary Ann Hollis, 69, a native of Vicksburg, MS who devoted her career to federal government service in multiple demanding jobs in Washington, DC, died on Dec. 27, 2024, in Alexandria, VA following more than two years of illnesses.

Preferring the spelling Mari for her first name, she worked for U.S. Agriculture Chairman Kika De La Garza and his Texas border district House successor Ruben Hinojosa for many years. Then she used her expertise in federal grants to work at the U.S. Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and human Services, primarily to help local officials obtain funds for worthy projects while also achieving accountability to taxpayers for the funding.

For years, she was an accomplished grants manager following what she called rigorous training by the Agriculture chairman's chief of staff. Among career highlights was serving as the guide to Capitol Hill for Spain's visiting Prince Felipe, who became Felipe VI, King of Spain in 2014.

She was fluent in Spanish following graduation with a master's degree from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. Previously, she studied at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS, and at the University Salamanca, founded in 1218 in Spain and now the oldest University in the Hispanic world.

She was born on Dec. 7, 1955, a fitting date for the daughter of two World War II military service veterans, Walter Elwood Hollis, later an Army Corps of Engineers civil engineer heavily focused on Mississippi River conditions and Mildred Maud "Peggy" (Mims) Hollis of Vicksburg. Among Mari Ann's passions were art and travel, often shared with her late mother, a leader of American tour groups that visited historic and otherwise exotic locales in six of the world's seven continents.

The military service of Mari Ann's parents helped inspire her own commitment to government service. As a Homeland Security grants supervisor, among her assignments she enthusiastically undertook was helping deliver emergency relief to Hurricane Katrina victims while she and her government colleagues slept in tents to work near the disaster scenes.

Mari Ann was "one of the kindest, most considerate people I've ever met" was a repeated comment or paraphrase from longtime friends upon learning of her passing.

Mari Ann was predeceased by her siter Peggy Janice Masterson, her only sibling, and her parents. She leaves her longtime partner, Andrew Kreig, a non-profit executive, lawyer and journalist whom she met in 1991, introduced by a mutual friend.

She leaves many dear friends, some with interactions extended since childhood. One, a college friend who became a professional entertainer and also a Mississippi state senator, would croon an Elvis Presley ballad to her on her birthday nearly every year until her death, reminding them of their roots.

Like her mother and sister, she combined an independent lifestyle and career path, with a caring, empathetic good nature. "She was the most independent woman I've ever met," commented a fellow Capitol Hill staffer from the 1980s who remained in touch.

An art lover, Mari Ann learned mosaic designing at the Smithsonian Institute in order to create her own works. She loved also her Pekinese dogs, whom she acquired as puppies from a specialize breeder in Ukraine.

A Mercy celebration will be from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20 at Goldies Trail Bar-B-Q in Vicksburg hosted by her partner. Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to share memories. Burial, arranged by Glenwood Funeral home, will be in her family's plot at the historic Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 under the guidance of Pastor Jimmy Henry of First Baptist Church of Vicksburg.

Memorial donations may be to the Sarcoidosis Foundation or the First Baptist Church, where Mari Ann was baptized and for whom her mother worked as the church secretary for many years.

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