Carl Holyfield Jr.

GULF BREEZE, Fla. -- Carl Price Holyfield Jr. of Gulf Breeze passed away Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, from COVID-19.

He was born Oct. 25, 1943, in Sikeston, Missouri, the son of the late Carl Price Holyfield Sr. and Votra Baker Holyfield. He was a 1962 Sikeston High School graduate and served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 AF&AM, Sikeston Elks Lodge 2319, Henry Meldrum American Legion Post 114 and VFW Post 873. After moving to Florida, he remained active in several civic groups. Carl earned his pilot's license early on and made flying his career.

On Nov. 25, 1981, he married the late Fredi Femmer of New Madrid, Missouri, and they made their home in Hermitage, Tennessee, where Carl worked as a pilot for Noranda Aluminum at their corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. After retirement, Carl and Fredi moved back to Sikeston, where they made their home until moving to Gulf Breeze in 2017.

He was preceded in death by a brother, H.J. "Cotton" Holyfield Sr., and two sisters, Ruth Dover and Doris Stephens, all of Sikeston. Also preceding him were two nephews, Tommy Lee Dover and Rickie Lee Holyfield.

Carl is survived by his daughter, Lee Ann (Brian) Kimbrell of Navarre, Florida; and son, Tony Carl (Renee') Martin of Drasco, Arkansas. Also surviving are grandchildren, Todd Lee Metheny, Jessica Bornman, Robert Bornman, Tony Kyle Martin and Tyler Martin; great-grandchildren, Preston and Jameson Sergant; nephew, H.J. "Butch" Holyfield Jr. of Scott City; and two nieces, Nancy Dover Keating of Lakeland, Florida, and Darlene Stephens Ballard of Leesburg, Florida.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today at the Rose Lawn Funeral Home in Gulf Breeze.