Earlora Holden, widow of legendary PRCC football coach T. D. “Dobie” Holden, went home to the Lord on November 18, 2014 at the age of 105 years. She remained vibrant, engaged, productive, and disease free until the end.
Funeral services will be at First Baptist Church, Poplarville on Friday, November 21, 2014 at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in New Palestine Cemetery in Picayune. The family will receive friends and have visitation at White Funeral Home, Poplarville on Thursday, November 20, 2014 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm; and one hour prior to the services, Friday at the church.
Earlora was born on April 29, 1909 in Nacogdoches, TX and spent her youth in Jasper, TX. She moved to Picayune at the age of 14 where she graduated from Picayune High and captured the attention of young football star, Dobie Holden. The couple married following Dobie’s successful gridiron exploits at LSU.
Earlora and Dobie resided in Picayune for 10 years (1933-1943) where Dobie coached at Picayune High School. Following a successful four-year gridiron stint at Pascagoula High (1944-48), the Holden’s moved to Poplarville where Dobie became a celebrated football coach at Pearl River Community College (1948-1966). Earlora attend PRCC and the University of Southern MS where she obtained a BS and MEd. In 1953, she joined the PRCC faculty and served as head of the business department until her retirement in 1974.
Mrs. Holden received PRCC’s Distinguished Service Award in 1989. She was a charter member of the PRCC Development Foundation and the Pearl River Museum Foundation. She received the Delta Kappa Gamma Woman of Distinction Award, the MS Retired Teachers’ Association Teacher of the Year Award, and was recognized for 55 years of service as a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church of Poplarville where she is a member She was president of Delta Kappa Gamma’s Sigma Chapter and the Poplarville Garden Club and vice president of the Poplarville Woman’s Club. In 2010, she received the high honor of having a women’s residence hall named after her at PRCC.
Mrs. Holden’s family legacy includes two children and their spouses, Dr. Tom Holden (Dianne) of Grenada, MS, and Dr. Carole Holden Lund (Daniel) of Mandeville, LA, seven grandchildren, Christian Fajoni of Mandeville, LA, Lauren Bartlett (William) of Covington, LA and by marriage, Jennifer Vickers (Brad) of Starkville, MS, Amy Day (Matt) of Nokomis, FL; Wendy Yenni (Todd) of Hammond, LA, Daniel Lund III (Liz) of New Orleans, and Dr. Peter Lund (Courtney) of Chattanooga, TN, 17 great grandchildren, and a large extended family. Her siblings include Florine Gordy dec. of Houston, Lawrence Chapman dec. of New Orleans, and three half sisters, Mary Alice Hopper and Pauline Branch of Bogalusa, LA and Charlene Frazier dec. of Slidell, LA.
Memorials may be directed to First Baptist Church; PO Box 191, Poplarville, MS 39470 or Pearl River Community College Development Foundation; PO Box 5389, Poplarville, MS 39470.
White Funeral Home, Poplarville (601) 795-4982. www.whitefuneralhomepoplarville.com