Frances Holland

Frances Kelly Holland, age 92, died Thursday April 3, 2014, in Charlotte.

Mrs. Holland was born Nov. 18, 1921, in Mount Holly, to the late Ernest Dexter Kelly, Sr. and Bula McIntosh Kelly. She graduated from Mount Holly High School in 1938, and she received a Bachelor of Music degree from Greensboro College in 1942. On Aug. 27, 1944, she married the love of her life, Thomas Holland. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Mrs. Holland was a skillful and dedicated musician who used her talents to enhance Christian worship. She had great respect for Johann Sebastian Bach when he wrote "Soli Deo Gloria," to the glory of God alone. For Frances Holland, music was an integral part of her witness for Jesus Christ. Mrs. Holland was known for the quality of her musicianship. Her aptitude for music was apparent early in her life. She began playing for school chapel services in the fifth grade. At age 13, she played for worship services at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Holly. Mrs. Holland was a piano and organ teacher, organist, and choir director for over 50 years.

Through the years, she continued her education on many workshop programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, Montreat Music Conference, and Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. A few months ago, at the age of 92 years, Mrs. Holland played the piano for an hour at a reception at Sharon Towers retirement community. She loved to play the piano while her great-grandchildren danced to her music. Mrs. Holland served as the organist and choir director at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Holly for a number of years. In 1953, she moved to a similar position at the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Holly, where she served until her retirement in 1984. After her retirement, she substituted as organist at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. In 1959, Mrs. Holland was elected as the first woman dean of the Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. She served as hospitality chairman for that organization for 22 years. She was certified as an organist by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. At the Mount Holly Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Holland was a Circle Chairman and also President of the Presbyterian Women of the Church. She also served on the coordination council of the Concord Presbytery. In 1960 and 1961, she was president of the Women's Auxiliary of the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Association. In 1961, Mrs. Holland was chosen as Woman of the Year in Mount Holly.

In 2007, she and her husband moved from Mount Holly to Sharon Towers retirement community in Charlotte. As a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, she also belonged to the Fellowship Sunday School Class and Susanna Circle. Her special hobby was sending cards and birthday greetings to many people.

Mrs. Holland was preceded in death by her brother, Ernest Dexter Kelly, Jr. and her sister, Inez Kelly Kuhn. She is survived by her beloved husband of 69 years, Thomas Marshall Holland, of Charlotte; daughter, Camille Holland Carruth and her husband, Dr. Joseph E. Carruth, of Dublin, Ga.; son, Willis Marshall (Bucky) and his wife, Christine Hiestand Holland, of Columbia, S.C.; five grandchildren, Rev. Thomas Willis Carruth and wife, Shelly, Elizabeth Carruth Barfoot and husband, Adam, Carrie Lynn Holland, Lauren Anna Holland, and Craig Wellman Bode and wife, Karen; six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held 12:00 p.m. Saturday April 5, 2014, at Covenant Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Joan H. Watson officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Music Dept., Covenant Presbyterian Church, and 1000 E. Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28204 or to Residence Assistance Fund, Sharon Towers, 5100 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210.