Freddie Lollie, friend of ETB and Kilgore citizen, passes at 91
We’ve never done this on ETBlitz.com, and we generally try and keep things upbeat.
But I have to note the passing of a good friend of mine.
That would be Freddie Lollie, who has passed at age 91.
I learned of Freddie’s passing through his son, Mark.
Because I know Freddie would be offended if I called him “Mister” Lollie, I’m going to call him “Freddie” here in this story.
Freddie and I have been friends a long time, ever since a year or so before he lost a son, Luke, in a car accident. Luke was only a freshman, maybe a sophomore, when he was killed in a car accident about 21 years ago.
The strength of Freddie and his wife Lorene during that time was so admirable.
At that point, I had been the sports editor of the Kilgore News Herald for about two years. Luke was a baseball player for Kilgore High, a younger player on a roster filled with older, very talented players, guys like Jess Todd (who would go on to pitch in the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland organizations in Major League Baseball and their minor leagues), Pat McCrory (standout at the University of Texas and at Embry-Riddle in Florida), catcher Josh Majors, Andrew Terrell, Clint Toon, Clay Swetnam and so many more.
But Luke was right there, talented as heck and just younger. I remember a photo we ran of Luke throwing the ball in from center field. I believe Luke would’ve contributed heavily to the Diamond ‘Dogs’ playoff runs in his two to three years of time left at KHS.
We lost Luke, though, to a car accident, and in the baseball playoff run that followed (the spring of 2004), Kilgore would run into Highland Park. That Highland Park team had current NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford, and also had “some other guy” that you might have heard of: future MLB pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who would go on to win three Cy Young Awards and so much more with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
I’ve told this story 100 times, but to condense it a bit in respect for Freddie: the deciding game between Kilgore and Highland Park was played at Sulphur Springs. It was a few months after HPHS had beaten Kilgore in a fourth-round football playoff game at Rose Stadium in Tyler. Tensions were high everywhere for the baseball playoff rematch, and I mean you could feel it in the crowd.
Eventually, as the game would play out, very close, Clint Toon hit what would be the game-winning home run, and Kilgore booted Highland Park from the playoffs.
And that game, by the way, was on Luke Lollie’s birthday.
The Lollie family has always had a special place in my heart, and I’ll miss Freddie until we get reunited one day in heaven. When we do, I’ll just bet he’s going to want to talk Kilgore football.
Services for Freddie will be Saturday (tomorrow) at noon at St. Luke’s, downtown Kilgore (401 East Main). Visitation is tonight from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Victory Temple Church of God in Christ, at 601 Highway 31 East in Kilgore.
And because I know some of you might be interested, here, courtesy of Ainsworth & Young Funeral Home, is Freddie’s obituary.
Freddie E. Lollie gained eternal rest on December 13, 2025, at the age of 91. Freddie was born on April 15, 1934, in Overton, Rusk County, Texas, to the late Mamie Jones DeBose and Jake Lollie. He was one of four children raised with strong values of faith, hard work, and love for family. Freddie accepted Christ at an early age and began his spiritual journey through baptism and membership at Harmony Pirtle Baptist Church, where his faith became the foundation of his life. On May 29, 1974, Freddie married the love of his life, Lorene Whitmore, at the Jones Funeral Home Chapel in Kilgore, Texas. Their marriage was filled with love, commitment, and devotion and was blessed with five sons. Freddie took great pride in being a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.
He graduated from Star Bailey Public Schools in 1952 in Overton, Texas, and continued his education at Prairie View A&M University. In 1955, Freddie was inducted into the United States Army, where he served until 1959 as a proud Korean War veteran.
In 1961, Freddie began a career that would become a lifelong passion when Dr. William Leon Hattaway, pastor of St. Luke Methodist Church in Kilgore, offered him the position of church custodian. Freddie loved his job and his church family, faithfully serving for an extraordinary 54 years. During his tenure, he witnessed many changes but remained a steady, trusted presence whose dedication never wavered.
Alongside his service to the church, Freddie also built a successful career as a Field Technician with GTE Telephone Company, now known as Verizon. He retired after 34 years of service from there, earning perfect attendance and numerous awards—a testament to his work ethic, reliability, and pride in doing things the right way. Freddie found joy in life’s simple pleasures. He was an avid sports fan, especially devoted to the Kilgore Bulldogs, and he loved fishing, dancing, and supporting his children in every sport they pursued. His warm smile, kind heart, and gentle spirit made him a favorite among all generations. He had a way of making people feel welcome, valued, and loved.
Freddie was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lorene Lollie; his parents; his sons Luke Lollie and Lonnie Carraway; and his siblings Louis Jackson, Claude Lollie Sr., and Henry Lollie.
He leaves to cherish his loving memories his Sister in law Billie Lollie of Houston, Tx, sons Mark Lollie (Sherice) of Forney, Freddie Lollie Jr. of Kilgore, and JT Carraway Jr. (Trametria) of Houston; Quathan Latham of Kilgore: his cherished grandchildren Jerin Carraway, Jessica Carraway, Jaden Carraway, Jillian Carraway, Jordan Carraway, Jazmine Carraway, Jay T Carraway, Mar’shalia Lollie, Luke Lollie, and Ashton Lollie; his godchildren Donald Coleman and Mesha Coleman; a niece who was like a daughter, Wanda Allen; a dear friend Robert Besser; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will forever treasure his memory.
