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Judith Marie Blackwood Holland
( September 20, 1941 - June 25, 2023 )
Judith “Judy” Marie Blackwood Holland, 81, went on to be with the Lord on June 25, 2023, after spending six years living her life to the fullest with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Judy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, business woman, community leader, patron of the arts, history buff, animal lover, and deeply devoted member of First Baptist Church.

Judy was born on September 20, 1941, in Charlotte, N.C., to Otho Ross Blackwood and Virginia Adelaide White Blackwood. A fun-loving and curious girl, she enjoyed school, basketball, girl scouts and many adventures with her doting extended family and friends, graduating from Harding High School in 1959.

Judy followed her high school friends to Women’s College of Greensboro, where she earned an associate degree in business. She joined Duke Energy as a secretary and caught the attention of a handsome young draftsman named Charles Holland, who asked her to a party. They married a little over a year later in 1963.
Judy supported Charles while he earned his engineering degree at NC State University before returning to Charlotte. A few years later, they moved with their two young daughters, Jennifer and Cheryl, to Lincolnton, N.C. Here, they put down roots that could not be severed.

Judy immediately became involved in many community activities, and when her girls got a little older, she became a real estate broker. She was involved in Habitat for Humanity, the Lincoln Cultural Center, Girl Scouts, PTA, LHS Band Boosters, charter member of Lincolnton Sunrise Rotary Club, Planning & Zoning Board, Thunder Over Carolina and many First Baptist Church committees. Her devotion to helping her community thrive brought her great satisfaction and also won her an legion of friends who turned into prayer warriors: something she credits to her longevity during her long and difficult illness.

Judy was honored as 2021 Lincoln County BPW Woman of the Year, an honor that took her by surprise as she had been lobbying tirelessly for another equally deserving member of the Lincoln County community. Even as they read her nomination, she had no idea they were talking about her until they called her name.

Her greatest joys, however, were her husband, children, grandchildren and extended family, who she maintained a close relationship to ensure that the ties that bind would stay strong long after she passed. She loved to travel, cook, sew, garden and make memories with them. She especially loved animals and was never far from her precious Bella.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents along with her brother, James Blackwood, and many furbabies. She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years Charles Edward Holland; children Jennifer Gilmore-Carson (Rodney) of Cary, N.C. and Cheryl Mills (Rudy) of Clayton, N.C., grand children Holland, Hannah and Zach Mills, Cameron and Carsyn Gilmore; bonus grandchildren Alex and Katie Carson; nephew Jeff Blackwood and grand nephew Jeff Evans; aunt Bobbie White Moore; many dear cousins, nieces and nephews; and her beloved Shih Tzu, Bella.

A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at First Baptist Church, Lincolnton. Visitation will take place at 2:30 p.m. prior to the service at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church - Lincolnton or Thunder Over Carolina, Inc. (P.O. Box 393, Lincolnton, NC 28093)

Posted on 26 Jun 2023


 

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