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Bankie Rae Hollis Holley, 74, died August 7, 2014, in Little Rock. She was born on October 1, 1939, in Lillie, LA, the daughter of Elmer Leslie and Ella Rae Hollis. Mrs. Holley received a B.A. in Music Education and an M.M. in Music Education from Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA.
In 1967 she and her husband, Don, moved to Monticello after Dr. Holley accepted a position in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department at what was then known as Arkansas A&M College. Mrs. Holley accepted a position directing the choir at Drew Central, and shortly thereafter began her tenure building the band program at the Monticello School District. Mrs. Holley taught both junior and senior high bands, and throughout her time the bands received accolades and awards in a number of areas. In addition, Mrs. Holley was incredibly well respected and a mentor to band directors throughout the state and beyond, but especially to young female directors.
In addition to teaching several generations of students, Mrs. Holley was an active member in several band and music organizations throughout the state and country. She also served as President of the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association.
Prior to her husband’s passing, Bankie and Don had recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her son, Stephen, and his wife, Kelly, of Centennial, CO; her daughter, Helen, of Little Rock; her brothers, Leslie, of Minden, LA, and John, of Memphis, TN; and three grandchildren, Bailey Holley of Little Rock, and Nathaniel and Benjamin Holley of Centennial, CO; and a host of relatives, friends, and grateful students.
In lieu of flowers, the Arkansas Women Band Directors Association has named a scholarship in her name, the Bankie Holley Memorial Scholarship, which will help fund the college education of a new generation of Arkansas band directors. To her former students who no longer play, Bankie’s family asks that you donate your lightly used instrument to Play it Again Arkansas in her memory, so that that new generation of musicians might benefit from her legacy. Please email commentry66@gmail.com for more information.
In 1967 she and her husband, Don, moved to Monticello after Dr. Holley accepted a position in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department at what was then known as Arkansas A&M College. Mrs. Holley accepted a position directing the choir at Drew Central, and shortly thereafter began her tenure building the band program at the Monticello School District. Mrs. Holley taught both junior and senior high bands, and throughout her time the bands received accolades and awards in a number of areas. In addition, Mrs. Holley was incredibly well respected and a mentor to band directors throughout the state and beyond, but especially to young female directors.
In addition to teaching several generations of students, Mrs. Holley was an active member in several band and music organizations throughout the state and country. She also served as President of the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association.
Prior to her husband’s passing, Bankie and Don had recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her son, Stephen, and his wife, Kelly, of Centennial, CO; her daughter, Helen, of Little Rock; her brothers, Leslie, of Minden, LA, and John, of Memphis, TN; and three grandchildren, Bailey Holley of Little Rock, and Nathaniel and Benjamin Holley of Centennial, CO; and a host of relatives, friends, and grateful students.
In lieu of flowers, the Arkansas Women Band Directors Association has named a scholarship in her name, the Bankie Holley Memorial Scholarship, which will help fund the college education of a new generation of Arkansas band directors. To her former students who no longer play, Bankie’s family asks that you donate your lightly used instrument to Play it Again Arkansas in her memory, so that that new generation of musicians might benefit from her legacy. Please email commentry66@gmail.com for more information.