Brenda Catherine Ruble Holland

Brenda Catherine Ruble Holland, 71, of Ocean Springs entered into eternal rest on July 7, 2019. She was born December 6, 1947 in Moss Point, MS to R.T. and Katie Ruble. Brenda was a graduate of Ocean Springs High School. She was employed by the Ocean Springs school district and became part of the Biloxi Internal Medicine Clinic family where she loved to work until she retired in 2013, after 24 years. Brenda is preceded in death by her parents, R.T and Katie Ruble; her sister, Kathleen Ruble; and her son, Jeffrey DuPont Holland. Brenda is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 50 years; Barry Holland; her adoring son, Jeremy (Melissa) Holland; and 5 precious grandchildren, Chris Herbert, Cameron Holland, Kyle Holland, KarLee Kate Holland, and Kelsee Grace Holland; brother-in-law, Donald (Lisa) Holland; and sisters-in-law, Tracy (Mike) Godsey, Cherie (Jeff) Smith, and Deborah Miller. Brenda blessed this world with beauty and grace. She demonstrated love in every single thing she did and to all she ever met. Whether it be through her heartfelt cooking, her generous and thoughtful gifts, her cheerful and bright, contagious smile that she wore wherever she went, her radiant countenance or just being in her presence. Brenda loves the Lord and she sought Him in all she would say or do. She was a giver and she received great joy in volunteering and serving her community. Her life was filled with serving and blessing others, especially after retirement. You could always find her with a twinkle in her eye and her compassionate heart, spending time at Feed My Sheep or the Helping Hands Ministry at Cedar Lake Church, where she was an active and proud member. She loves her church family dearly and especially the special small groups, in which she belonged: Information Desk, Ladies Loving Lunch, Forerunners and Helping Hands Ministry. Brenda had a unique way of engaging a person in conversation. Most conversations always started with a “Hi Brenda, how are you?” After a quick, “I am good” standard answer, within moments, the focus of the conversation went back to the person greeting her and their family and their recent doings, which she loved to hear about. Despite a 30year battle with cancer, it was never about her. Her brave, courageous and faith-filled spirit was admirable and inspiring to all. Even until her very last breath, you never heard a complaint and her heartfelt concern for others was tenderly expressed. She found the beauty in everything, especially nature and Gods creations. She looked forward with anticipation to the yearly trips to the Smoky mountains and Orange Beach with family. She treasured those trips to her happy places. The annual Holland Christmas Eve party is a family tradition that started with Brenda’s delicious seafood gumbo and potato salad and always ended with the dirty Santa game highlighting her signature golden box. Brenda is a beloved daughter, sister, wife, aunt, a precious, dear friend to all who know her and a devoted and cherished mother, but in December of 1998, she received a special new role in life, in which brought her some of her greatest joys. “Nana” became her new name and her five grandchildren were the light of her life and they each received their biggest personal fan in Nana. She treasured her Nana dates with each of them that created beautiful memories and lifelong lessons of heartfelt love that they will each cherish. Her strong heart may have stopped beating, but her love remains in the beautiful memories she has given to all who know and love her. She will be missed immensely, but our hearts are filled with true joy knowing she’s happy, pain free and “loving us from heaven.” Visitation will be held on Wednesday July 10, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home. Service is Thursday, July 11 at 1:00 p.m. at Cedar Lake Christian Assembly. Friends may visit one-hour prior to service. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park, Ocean Springs. Special thanks and recognition to Dr. Hull, Susan Day, Crystal and the staff of Singing River Regional Cancer Center. In lieu of flowers and in the spirit of Brenda’s giving nature, the family prefers donations to one of the following: Making strides against breast cancer, American Cancer Society GulfCoastMSStrides@cancer.org, Helping Hands Ministry of Cedar Lake Church, 11555 Cedar Lake Rd, Biloxi, MS 39532, or your favorite charity.