The setting was Lambuth University in Jackson, TN. A hunky football player spotted a perky cheerleader on the sidelines. Three years later, the couple married and transferred to the Univ. of GA where he earned a BS in Microbiology, and she earned a BA in Theatre. Twenty-nine years later, Ronnie and Jamie Hollis are still going strong.

 

Ronnie and Jamie moved here full-time from Marietta, GA, when their youngest graduated from high school. Now the youngest, Hayden, recently graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design and has since moved to Destin. He and Ronnie are currently working on a new business venture together. Their daughter, Mackenzie, is set to be married here in Sandestin next month. Before becoming a full-time mom in 2000, Jamie worked in the dental field. Ronnie was founder and CEO of Prestige Staffing in Atlanta in 1999, growing the business to have seven offices across the country.  

The family has been visiting the area for many years. “We have had a boat in the marina at Baytowne since 2015 and came as a family every six weeks for a week on our boat during the school year,” Jamie said. Now their favorite thing about living here is being close to their boat and having such easy access to the bay and the gulf. They love their St. Andrews location because it’s near the marina and it has “a good reputation as a fun, close knit neighborhood.”

 

Jamie and Ronnie spend countless hours on their boat and on the water. “Our favorite family tradition is definitely boating, hence the name Family Tradition V. We have spent many Christmas and New Years on our boat while in Key West,” Jamie shared. If Ronnie’s not on the water, he’s on the golf course. She prefers walking with their 11-year-old chocolate lab mix, Rosco, cooking, or entertaining and spending time with friends in their neighborhood. “I can often be found playing Bunco, dominos, or mahjong or planning a ladies’ boat outing,” Jamie shared and added that she also writes for the monthly St. Andrews neighborhood newsletter.

 

In addition to golfing and boating, the couple’s other passion is found in Jamaica. “We sponsor a school in the mountains of Queen Hythe in St. Anne's parish,” Jamie explained. “The school offers education to local children three to eight years of age. We have been able to provide needed educational supplies, medical supplies, renovations and donated computers and iPads to help the children learn about technology.” As a family, the Hollis clan has sponsored the school since 2016.

 

Even though Ronnie doesn’t catch footballs anymore, Jamie is still his greatest cheerleader.