Carneel “Red” Hollins Sr. was born on January 29th, 1964 to Willie Mae and Eddie Hollins Sr. He was the youngest of five brothers. Carneel attended and graduated from Westport High School. He loved playing sports during his time in high school, though that would later give way to a love of cooking. Carneel met his high school sweetheart Deborah and they were later married.

He moved to Colorado shortly after getting married to help his brother with his restaurant. He also attended Metro College, after a year he decided to join the Army, working as a wire system installer. He spent eight years in the army, moving around from Fort Jackson, to Fort Gordon to Fort Hood and then To Heidelberg West Germany. Though that was not where his tour of duty ended it was where his son Carneel Hollins Jr. was born. He spent his final days in the military at Fort Bragg before electing to leave the military in favor of giving his son a more stable life.

Upon his exit from the military he returned to Colorado to continue to help his brother but also to found a life for himself and his family. He worked at American Solid Surface for many years before his love of cooking drew him back to the kitchen. After the birth of his daughter Ashley Jasmine Red was interested in starting his own business.

Later in life he attended Johnson and Wales to expand his catalogue of cooking styles. Though he studied everything from Slovenian Cuisine to Caribbean and many things in between, French and Italian styles of cooking always held his heart. After his time at Johnson and Wales he settled down to be a chef at Cherry Creek Nursing Home, working his way to head chef in only a couple of years. The people he worked with became like a second family to him.

He was on the verge of starting his own catering business when the Lord called him home. Red will always be remembered for the love that he put into his food and his actions, be it taking a meal to someone in the hospital, grilling for a family event, or working for the church, he did his best to make sure everyone felt loved and looked after. Cooking was truly his passion.

Carneel departed this life on January the 11th, 2018. Those who remain to cherish his memories include Ashley Jasmine Hollins, Carneel Hollins Jr. and his wife Christina and their daughter Tabitha, Deborah Hollins, Charles and Rose Hollins and Flonzo and Ruth Hollins and a host of nieces and nephews and cousins and friends.

Carneel was preceded in death by his Father Eddie Hollins Sr., his mother Willie Mae Hollins, his brother, Robert Wroton, and his brother Eddie Hollins Jr.

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