Video: Iconic Mississippi Political Figure Talks About Dementia Diagnosis, Plans For The Future And Passion For People And Causes

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – For Steve Holland, getting a lot of mail at his family’s business is nothing new, but lately, bundles of cards and letters have been sent by friends and strangers, encouraging the businessman and lawmaker to wage a tough fight in his latest health crisis.

“One day for example, this is one day of cards, couple of days ago I received from people,literally all over the United States of America, I”m so grateful for that,” Holland said.

For years, people have known Steve Holland to burn the candle at both ends, keeping a hectic schedule as a member of the Mississippi House, representing the 16th district and helping run Holland Funeral Directors.  But in the last year, Holland says he began forgetting simple things, such as names of his associates.

“I’ve prided myself for most all of my life of knowing names, it ‘s been a gift that I’ve had and I was forgetting people, even on my own staff that I’ve been around everyday,” he said.

Once the diagnosis of dementia was confirmed, Holland talked with his family, then he broke the news on the House Floor, vowing to serve the rest of his term, and then retiring in 2020.

Still, he has no plans to leave the funeral business.

Holland says over the past 34 consecutive years of service in the legislature, there are several milestones he is proud to have been a part of.

“Those things that have empowered people’s lives. Those things we as a government have collectively done that people couldn’t do themselves, one thing is the 1987 highway program, that was trendsetting for generations, now it’s time to repeat that in way of a maintenance program , if we don’t what we did in 87 will be for naught.  The hospitals, outside of whitfield, the 79 locations, of group homes around the state to house our mentally retarded are things I personally got involved with,” Holland said.

One wall in Holland’s Tupelo office is adorned with awards, articles and other momentos.  He is proudest of one in particular.

“The Clarion Ledger , about a year or two year ago, awarded the first “Golden Tongued Devil Orator Award” and they gave it to me, and I thought that said a lot about my career. They want to give it to me again and I refused so they named it forever the Steve Holland Golden Tongued Orator Award for the State of Mississippi,” Holland said.

The 61 year old says he is following doctor’s orders, getting more rest, exercising regularly, and eating better.  He is also planning a family vacation this year, but the destination is a secret.