Mary E. Holman

Mary Elizabeth Holloway Holman was born on January 8, 1929 in the Redwood Community of Durham County, North Carolina to the late John and Leora Holloway. She was the youngest of eleven children born to that union. Mary was the “last girl standing” and relished being the “baby” of her family. Growing up, the nickname given to her by her brother Ralph was “Mippey”. He continued to call his baby sister by her nickname the remainder of his life. On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at 6:05 PM, the sun was shining bright as a host of angels came to escort Mary home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bennie Hopkins Holman, her second son, Ronnie Wayne, and her grandson, Omar Shareef. Mary’s early education was obtained at Little River and Mill Grove Schools in Durham County, North Carolina. She accepted Christ as her Savior and LORD at an early age and was baptized at Mount Zoar Missionary Baptist Church in Durham, NC. Moving to Baltimore, MD in 1952, Mary soon met the love of her life, Bennie Hopkins Holman, and they were married November 22, 1954. They remained happily married for 24 years. Having worked on several jobs, Mary decided to enter the medical field of work and enrolled in the St. Agnes Hospital LPN Nursing Program where she obtained her LPN Certificate. Later, she was employed with the hospital as an LPN nurse in the Operating Room, where she served for many years. After the births of her children, Mary joined the Baltimore City Police Department as a School Crossing Guard where many of those children still remember her to this day. She was affectionately called “Agnes” by close family friends of her daughter, even adopting that as her pet name. Mary was known for helping others, no matter the task, be it mothering, cooking or gardening – she did it all. Family was essential to her and she enjoyed hosting family gatherings where she would prepare her specialty dishes of crab cakes, potato salad and sweet potato pie. In 1954 Mary joined Wayland Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. William W. Payne. She remained a faithful and active member until illness prevented her from regular attendance. She was an active member of the Senior Ministry and the Gospel Chorus, always ready to assist with any effort wherein her beloved Wayland Baptist needed volunteers. Mary leaves to cherish her legacy sons, Bennie, Jr. and Lamar and daughter, Donna, (Earl), deceased son, Ronnie’s wife, Lisa, six grandchildren; Ronnie, Jr., Or’reese (Joyce), Orielle, Idris, Qadir and Mytiraa; six great grandchildren, Ronnie Wayne, III, Omar Jr., Destiny Brunson, Kaleigh and Or’reese Jr. and Sage Amour. She is survived by one sister-in-law, Effie Holloway of Durham, NC and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Tributes

Mary E. Holman

January 8, 1929 - March 18, 2020