Violet Hays Spence

  General Notes:

From The Virginian Pilot
Violet Spence Holland, 93, widow of Joel Cook Holland, Sr., died March 9, 2009 at the East Pavilion in Franklin, Va. She was born July 3, 1915 in Harnett County, NC, a daughter of the late Willoughby Thomas and Cara Bradley Spence. Mrs. Holland was a member and organist of Murfreesboro Baptist Church for many years. Left to cherish her memory are two daughters, Carolyne H. Bryant of Capron, Va, Martha H. Davis of Greenville, NC; two sons, Joel C. Holland, Jr., and wife, Kaye, of Murfreesboro and Robert P. Holland and wife, Marlene, of Greenville; one sister, Virginia S. Jackson of Raleigh, NC; eight grandchildren, Kira B. Fox of Capron, Jenny B. Drake of Franklin, Va, Marna D. Noe of Greenville, Ben G. Davis of Courtland, Va, G. T. Bryant, III, of Capron, David and James Holland, both of Wilmington, NC, and Sandra Hughes of Roxboro, NC; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mrs. Holland was predeceased by two sisters, Marjorie Spence, Bessie S. Tyson; and six brothers, Willoughby, Jr., George, Thomas, Dwight, Whitfield, and Staley Spence. The funeral will be conducted at 2 pm Wednesday in the chapel of Wright Funeral Home, 206 W. Fourth Ave, Franklin, Va., with the Rev. W. Harris Spence officiating. Interment will follow in Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home and suggests memorials be made to the Marjorie Spence Scholarship Fund, c/o Campbell University Divinity School, P. O. Box 4050, Buies Creek, NC 27506.

Violet married Joel Cook Holland, son of William Joseph Moore (Bill) Holland and Gertrude Emma (Essie) Pretlow. (Joel Cook Holland was born on 20 Nov 1904 in Nansemond Co, VA, died on 27 Feb 1978 in Franklin (Southampton Co.), VA and was buried in Plot 164 - Poplar Springs Cemetery - New Annex.)