Nine-term state Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, has been a character at times in the Mississippi Legislature.

Known for his colorful yet sometimes blunt speaking style, Holland delivered a message late this week to his legislative peers and constituents that was no joke.

Holland said he is suffering from dementia and will retire from politics at the end of his current term.

Holland, 61, is a Tupelo funeral home director so he understands better than most that life doesn’t always play out the way we expect. That’s probably why he had the courage to reveal his diagnosis and put it out there for public knowledge as a means of gaining understanding and support.

Holland said he often forgets names and sometimes forgets where he is going when driving, meaning that his dementia is not minor. He said it is likely to get worse, but did not disclose if it is Alzheimer’s or not.

He will be challenged in serving the next two years, but the condition to resign or not is his.

We appreciate Rep. Holland’s candor in being honest with Mississippi about his diagnosis and we pray for both he and his family in dealing with it.