Page 128 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2015

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WHITE PARTY
Spinners’ White Party honors Hollie Gonsoulin
story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of Kaycee Brooke
van and Kelly Spinner began hosting an annual IWhite Party — all guests wear white attire — while
living in Boca Raton, Fla., as a way to welcome the summer season. They recently
held their first White Party since re-
locating to Biloxi, and this time it was
a party with a purpose. It honored the late Hollie Gonsoulin, who died suddenly, and raised funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
“Hollie was our babysitter and was very special to us,” Kelly Spinner said. “Her family does many wonderful things in her honor.”
Hollie was the daughter of Tina and Scott Gonsoulin of Woolmarket and died on April 12, 2014, just shy of her 17th birthday.
The Gonsoulins are keeping Hollie’s memory alive through several avenues. One is Hollie Days, a pay-it-forward program with a participant doing something positive for
another person and then giving that person a laminated card with Hollie’s photo on it. The card encourages each person who receives it to also pay it forward with a kind gesture.
Other events are helping keep her memory alive too. At a recent dance recital, a scholarship was presented in Hollie’s memory by her former dance teacher. Also, a memorial fishing tournament was held and a memorial was established at D’Iberville High School.
“One hundred percent of the money collected at the White Party is going to St. Jude’s this year,
“We had no idea Hollie was sick. She was healthy and played tennis for D’Iberville High School,” Tina Gonsoulin said. “She always had a smile on her face.”
Gonsoulin said. “St. Jude’s was chosen because I have a nephew receiving cancer treatment there.”
Hollie is also survived by a sister, Hillary, 22, and a brother, Scotty, 12.
Hollie Gonsoulin
128 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2015
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