Postcards from the Isle of Denial: It's All Good!

Saturday, September 16, 2006
Many friends joined together yesterday in Biloxi to say farewell to Clyde "Holly" Holloman. It was a reunion I think many of us needed. Of course, the reason we were together was sad, but, like most funerals, it brought many of us together who have not seen each other in decades. This was a rock & roll reunion.

Mark Smith flew in from Atlanta for the day to be with us which a very welcome surprise. To name a few in attendance...John Meredith, Richard Scott, Kippy, Mark Lanoue, Suzanne Gautier, Guy Walker, Todd Read, Forrest Miller. Even my niece, Lucci, showed up.

The service began with Mark Lanoue (one of my barbacks from Shy-Anne) & Paul Newton, Jr. performing "Amazing Grace" on harmonica and acoustic guitar. We sang a not half bad rendition, as well. We heard "23 Psams", a song written & performed by Denise Holloman Fernald (Clyde's big sister) and produced by Clyde. We also heard "Meet You on the Other Side" and "Far From Home", songs written, performed, & produced by Clyde and the members of his band, BILOXI. The members of BILOXI spoke about Clyde, making all of us laugh, yes, and even cry. Denise gave us many stories and also consoled us, stressing that it just must of been Clyde's time, no big mystery. We also heard from Beverly Martin, a lifelong friend of Clyde's, and she also had some great stories. The kicker was when Jacob, Clyde's son who had been estranged from his father for years & had just reunited with Clyde, read a poem/song about forgiveness and understanding...tearjerker.

We were outside in the parking lot, hoisting a greenie in Clyde's name. This scene was very reminiscent of the days at Shy-Anne...if I wanted to find Forrest, Todd, etc., I could usually go into the parking lot and they would be hanging around Gary's old green truck, drinking Heinies. Just substitute the old green truck with a mini-van and you have the picture. We were dancing to Todd Rundgren...imagine that. A Biloxi cop steps up to us and the guys were a little nervous because of open container laws. The cop steps up and says, "Bust Up!". I thought the guys were gonna fall out of the rockin' mini-van. The cop was Mitch Roberts, a boy I have known since 2nd grade.

A few of us went to Forrest's house after the funeral. We grilled hamburgers and tuna steaks. And, yes, we listened to music and had a little dance party. Suzanne brought a CTE scrapbook and we had the best time looking at pictures from 20+ years ago. Oh, man, you know I am in love with the 80's, but what the hell were we thinking with our hairstyles and clothes!!! YIKES!!! We had such a good laugh, sitting over this book.

Mark Smith