Mother Anne Lou (McClary) Holly

DANVILLE, VA - On Friday, April 12, 2024, God plucked a beautiful flower, nurtured in earth’s garden, to take her place in the garden of Glory.

Public viewing will begin on Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 4 until 7 p.m. at Mt. Sinai Glorious Church of God, 716 Jefferson Street, Danville, VA. The family will arrive at 6 p.m.

A celebration of life service will be held on Monday, April 22, 2024 at 12 p.m. at Mt Sinai Glorious Church of God, 716 Jefferson Street, Danville, VA.

Interment will follow in Highland Burial Park, Danville, VA.

You may live stream the service via https://youtube.com/@SerenityFuneralHomeLive

“Mother Holly”, as she was so affectionately known, was born in Danville, Virginia on July 2, 1935, the eldest child of the late, Deacon Isaiah and Lucille McClary. She was educated at Almagro Elementary, Monticello Elementary, Langston Annex, and as the first in her father’s family, graduated from John M. Langston High School.

The hand of the Lord was on her life at an early age, and she received Christ as her Savior and joined the church that her father helped to establish – Mount Sinai Glorious Church of God. It was there that she grew in faith and fellowship with family, friends, and other believers.

Mother Holly’s gifts became evident at a young age. She demonstrated a love for reading, writing, and a proclivity for the piano purchased by her father as a gift to her mother. As music was her first love, she received a vocal music scholarship to Central State College in Wilberforce, Ohio, majoring in Social Work. But in later years, after returning to Danville, she attended Danville Community College, expanding her knowledge in the area of Library Science.

Her musical journey included piano lessons from Mrs. Doswell on Holbrook Street while in Junior High School, vocal training at Langston High School, under Mrs. Banner, being a member of the Music Ensemble at Central State College, under Ms. Montgomery, and being a featured soloist at concerts, conventions, and special events.

She served as pianist in various capacities for the Glorious Churches of God while growing up. In Summer of 1955, at Temple Church of God in Christ, Washington, D.C., under Bishop Samuel Kelsey, she was encouraged by Elder Sherman Howard and rising Pastor, Elder Jesse Willis. Under Elder Willis, she organized and accompanied the choir for Friendship Church of God in Christ, while attending New Bethel Church of God in Christ, under Elder Sherman Howard.

Mother Holly returned to Danville in 1969, with her husband and family, after the death of her father. She reunited with Mount Sinai Glorious Church of God under the leadership of the late, Elder Samuel M. Lewis, and shortly thereafter, began playing for worship services and the Senior Choir. She continued faithful service under the pastorate of Bishop Arthur R. Linder for more than five decades. Under his recommendation, she was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Music from Living Epistle Bible Institute in 2014.

With moments too many to name, Mother Holly experienced 57 years of marriage to the love of her life, the late Herbert Hoover Holly, and built a household filled with six children: Pamela, Joyce, Guy, Harry, Dierdre, and Herbert, and hilarious good and hard times, home-cooked meals, and some of life’s greatest lessons. Her devotion and sacrifices for family and others, drew many others to become a part of her love and reach, with frequent visitors dropping by to see “what was on the stove”.

Her dedication was evident at Mt. Sinai, the church that she loved. She served as president of the Usher Board, Superintendent of the Sunday School, a Sunday School Teacher, a Financial Secretary, Church Clerk, President of the Pastor’s Aide, and organized the church’s first publication: 57th Church Anniversary Souvenir Booklet. She also had fond moments during her service at Danville Public Schools as a Library and Teacher’s Assistant. And the moments continued with her retirement from Lorillard Tobacco Company after 28 years of employment.

She leaves to cherish her memory, six children, Rev. Pamela H. McLaughlin (Rev. Wesley), of Chester, Va., Joyce H. Jones (Jerry) of Chester, Va., Rev. Guy Holly, of Fort Worth, Texas, Harry Holly (Andrea), of Henrico, Va., Min. Dierdre H. Pearson (Rev. Pate), of Chester, Va., and Rev. Herbert H. Holly II (Annette), of Chester, Va. Grandchildren, J’von Holly Leach (Malcolm), Rev. Jameson K. McLaughlin (Phaedra), of Harrisburg, PA., Deah Holly Mondine, of Fort Worth, TX., Warren Holly, of Henrico, Va., LeAnne Holly, of Chicago, Ill., Brittany Anderson, Courtney Anne Holly. Great-Grandchildren, MacKenzie Leach, Riley Briggs, Malaisia Mondine, Kimora Mondine, Charis McLaughlin, Jacob McLaughlin, and Joshua McLaughlin, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends, devoted persons, Linwood and Denise Wallace, and Rev. Michael M. Moore. She also leaves to cherish her memory, the Mother’s Board, Senior Choir, other members of Mt. Sinai, and her watch care congregation, the Mount Olivet Baptist Church of Petersburg, Va.

She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Deacon Isaiah and Lucille McClary, four brothers, Woodrow McClary, Lyman “Billy” McClary, Harry McClary, and John McClary, and her devoted husband, Herbert H. Holly.

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