The family of 85-year-old James Holloway Sr., who drowned in a Jacksonville retention pond, is speaking out to raise awareness about pond safety.

The family of James Holloway Sr. says they hope his death will bring greater awareness to retention pond safety.

The family of an 85-year-old Jacksonville man who drowned in a retention pond at an apartment complex earlier this year is speaking publicly for the first time.

James Holloway Sr. died March 21 after drowning in a retention pond at Marcis Pointe Apartments on 103rd Street.



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His family spoke at a press conference Wednesday, describing Holloway as a devoted family man and remembering the impact his death has had on their family. His daughter, Latonya Stewart, said the circumstances surrounding his death have made the loss especially difficult for the family.

“He did not deserve to die the way he did at the bottom of a pond, and that we couldn’t even have an open-casket funeral for him,” she said. “For us to lose him this way, it was just heartbreaking for everybody”

A wrongful death lawsuit filed this week alleges the retention pond at Marcis Pointe Apartments was not properly maintained or secured. The lawsuit also alleges issues involving the pond’s slope and access controls.

Attorney Adam Finkel, who represents the Holloway family, said the issue is about protecting people who may be vulnerable to drowning hazards.

“This isn’t politics, this is saving lives and protecting those that are most vulnerable,” Finkel said.

Finkel said he believes additional safety measures are needed at residential communities with retention ponds.

“The time is now: these ponds and residential communities must be treated like those pools, and fences must be erected from the outset,” he said. “The cost of building one of these fences is far less than the cost of a human life.

Holloway’s family said they hope sharing his story will bring greater awareness to the dangers retention ponds can pose and help prevent another family from experiencing a similar loss.

The lawsuit names NVC-103RD STREET, LTD. and Wendover Management, LLC as defendants.

First Coast News reached out to the property management company named in the lawsuit for a response to the allegations. We are still waiting to hear back.