2026 Charity Ball King:

Mr. Clyde Hollis

Clyde Hollis was born in Greenville, Mississippi and moved to Columbus at a young age.  He attended Franklin Academy for elementary school and later graduated from Stephen D. Lee  High School in 1965, where he played baseball throughout his years in school. His love for the  game continued long after graduation. Having played for many years at Propst Park in  Columbus, he enjoyed coaching baseball and softball there for his son and daughters, and later  helped coach his grandchildren’s tee-ball teams at Ola J. Pickett Park in Caledonia. After high  school, Clyde enrolled at Mississippi State University and graduated in 1969 with a degree in  accounting. While at MSU, he participated in Army ROTC and was a member of Scabbard and  Blade Military Honor Society. During his college years, he worked with Jimmy Graham, who  had just begun Graham Roofing Company, to help pay for his education. Much of Clyde’s free  time was spent working at Graham Roofing during the week and on the weekends, alongside  friends and classmates who made up the early workforce of the growing company.  

In 1969, after graduating from MSU, Clyde married Janice Graham Hollis. They have  been married for 57 years and have three children and eleven grandchildren. Throughout the  years, Janice, who is a lifetime member, has been a faithful supporter of the Junior Auxiliary of  Columbus. Janice’s most memorable time serving was her time as a director for Camp Rising  Sun, a camp that gives terminally ill children the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and activities  with other children. One summer afternoon, a tornado struck the camp, causing major damage  and road blockage from fallen trees. By the grace of God, no children were injured. Volunteers  from Graham Roofing quickly brought equipment and worked effortlessly to clear the roads  before nightfall, restoring access to the site. 

Following his graduation from MSU, Clyde began his career with Peat, Marwick, and  Mitchell, a national Certified Public Accountant firm. One year later in 1970, Clyde entered the  United States Army and served with the U.S Army Security Agency, holding a top-secret crypto  clearance. After completing his military service in 1971, he became business partners with  Jimmy Graham and Bobby Hooks in Graham Roofing Company. For nearly 37 years, the three  partners worked together to build Graham Roofing on a foundation of quality, integrity, and  professionalism, serving customers across North Mississippi, West Alabama, and parts of  Tennessee. Clyde often reflects on his time spent working with Jimmy Graham and Bobby  Hooks, saying that one of their greatest joys was seeing many of the early workers and friends go  on to start their own businesses and succeed in their individual careers. He and his partners  encouraged entrepreneurship and shared a common goal of supporting young adults, offering  financial guidance and creating opportunities for them to succeed. In 2005, Clyde retired from  Graham Roofing and became sole owner of Rent-A-Space, LLC, which operates rental  properties and self-storage facilities in the Columbus area. Through this business, he has been  able to work closely with family members and people he considers to be family, working toward  his goal and deeply rooted passion of providing opportunities for his family, friends, and small  businesses of Columbus.  

Throughout his life, Clyde has been deeply involved in the Columbus community.  Serving for many years of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library Board, Clyde has supported and worked on several beautification projects around the library. He, along with his two oldest granddaughters, helped organize hundreds of photographs from Carl Brown’s collections. One of Clyde’s fondest memories is serving as the assistant to Mother Goose when he brought each grandchild to story hour every Thursday for 21 years. Not only has Clyde been involved with many projects at the library, but he has also worked alongside grandchildren on various improvement projects around the town. Among these projects, though quite laborious, one consisted of repainting the rails along the Riverwalk during the summer with his grandchildren to help enhance the area. Clyde takes great pride in completing small projects that make a big  different in the community.  

Clyde is a supporter of local schools, including Heritage Academy, Columbus Christian  Academy, and Caledonia Elementary, Middle, and High School, where his children and  grandchildren have attended. Clyde served on the Heritage Academy School Board and as an  officer for the sports boosters and PTA. He was instrumental, along with several other men, in  constructing the Heritage Academy Baseball facility. In addition to schools, he also supports  organizations such as Last House on the Block and Life Choices Pregnancy Center.  

At Woodlawn Church of Christ, where he is an active member, Clyde thoroughly enjoys  teaching Sunday school. Previously, at East Columbus Church of Christ, he served as a deacon,  elder, and teacher for all age groups, from young children to adults.  

Today, Clyde remains active in Rent-A-Space and spends time managing private land in  Ethelsville, Alabama. There, he focuses on developing land for wildlife and creating a  welcoming place where family and friends can gather for holidays, special events, and overnight  stays with his children and grandchildren, who are a central part of his life. Whether he is  attending baseball, basketball, or football games, dance or piano recitals, or even barrel racing  events, Clyde’s priority is to be present in his grandchildren’s lives. Above all, Clyde is known  for his heart for others and his genuine passion for serving them, from doing yardwork for a  homebound friend to mentoring and supporting young adults as they pursue their education and careers. He believes strongly that the youth of Columbus, Mississippi will one day become  leaders, and he is committed to helping guide and encourage them along the way.