Carol Hollomon, mother of Megan’s House namesake, dies at 65

ALBANY — Carol Hay Hollomon, an Albany resident whose daughter was the inspiration for Megan’s House — a respite facility for special needs children — died last week. She was 65.

Hollomon died Saturday at Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, a few weeks after undergoing a medical procedure for atrial fibrillation that she was unable to recover from, the family said. Her funeral service was on Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, followed by burial at Patmos Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery.

Among those she worked closely with at Easter Seals Southern Georgia was Nicki Wilson, the organization’s director of family support services, who she had most recently been collaborating with to raise funds for a new Megan’s House facility in Albany to accommodate more families.

Thursday, Wilson remembered not just Hollomon’s advocacy work, but her interactions with the children served by Megan’s House — even singing, dancing and being silly with them.

“This is certainly a very devastating and tragic loss to us,” said Wilson. “She was just (a passionate) advocate, not just for Megan’s House, but for all of those with disabilities.

“ … She was so full of life. She was not just full of life, but full of Jesus. Her greatest pleasure was sitting around with the children at Megan’s House … She was just a bright light; somebody that could have had a negative life, and could have chosen to be a bitter person …”

A native of Camilla, Hollomon graduated from Baker County High School in 1966. She attended Albany Junior College, which is now Darton State College. She was the founder and president of TIME, Inc. — or Together In Megan’s Eyes. She had served on the board of Megan’s House, and was also a past president and served on the board of Easter Seals.

Megan’s House was named after her daughter, who had been diagnosed with Partial Trisomy 22 Chromosome Disorder shortly after birth, following her sudden death in 2003. Her condition left her mentally and physically challenged.

Her obituary said that Hollomon was a noted singer since her high school days, and was part of a trio named Next of Kin — which included two of her cousins, one of whom is Wanda Hudgins, wife of Dougherty County Commissioner Lamar Hudgins.

The day following Hollomon’s funeral, Hudgins recalled the impact Megan’s death had and how the founding of Megan’s House changed her cousin.

“That was her salvation, wanting them to start that home,” she said. “It gave her a reason to live. Megan was her passion. That home was a life-saver after the death of her daughter.

“She was a woman who wanted things done well. She wanted her daughter’s legacy to be one of quality.”

Hudgins was brought to tears when recalling the kind of relationship she had with her late cousin. They were writing a book.

“We were together almost every day,” she said. “For all intents and purposes, she was my sister.

“She spoke of her daughter’s legacy, but Carol has left a legacy herself. She was a fun part of life for those of us who were more serious. She was a people person … a prayer partner.”

For Hollomon’s sake, Hudgins’ hope is that the new Megan’s House can still become a reality in her absence.

“She never wanted these children to be hidden away,” Hudgins said. “She knew the impact special-needs children had on families; it’s hard even to get a sitter.

“My prayer is that someone will come forward with the same height of passion. Nobody can ever fill her shoes, but I pray someone with the passion steps forward.”

Hollomon’s survivors also include her husband, a son, a sister, three grandchildren, six nieces and nephews, five great-nieces and nephews as well as several in-laws.

As of Thursday, Wilson said, there had been roughly $160,000 raised toward the new Megan’s House, with the goal of reaching $250,000 so that grants could be applied for to fund the remainder of the project. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to TIME, Inc. for the facility by sending them to 1906 Palmyra Road, Albany, GA 31701.