Mrs. Lois E. Holt

HOLT, Mrs. Lois E. - Age 101, passed away Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Argentine Care Center in Linden, MI. Family hour 10:30 A.M. Friday, May 5, 2017 at Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Hwy., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM, Rev. Faith Green-Timmons, Host Pastor, Rev. Alonzo Vincent officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 AM Friday. Mrs. Holt will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday. Family Hour from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM with a Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Zeta Beta Omega Chapter Service beginning at 6:00 PM. Lois Elizabeth Josephine Holt was born on April 6, 1916 in Black Oak, Arkansas to the late Morris Ellis VanZandt and Josephine Blake. With a unique foundation, two sisters married two brothers (Roscoe VanZandt & Cora Blake). She was the second of four children Ruth, Catherine and Janie. When Lois was six her mother died. Years later Morris, her father, married Rebecca Hayes from Ormond Beach, Florida, Janie’s mother. Lois attended the Flint Community schools from kindergarten through twelfth grades, graduating from Flint Central High School. Early in her schooling she discovered she had a loss of hearing for which she compensated by lip reading and paying close attention to the speaker. After graduation she attended Wilberforce University in Ohio where she was on the Debate Team, she was a member of the Home Economics Club, named to the Who’s Who in America, she was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and was voted “Miss Wilberforce” in 1941. After graduation she returned to Flint and was hired by the Flint Community Schools as a Visiting Teacher, the first African-American to hold a professional position with the school district. Lois continued her education and received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and worked on her Doctorate Degree at Michigan State University. In 1952, Lois married Edgar B. Holt, the first Flint Branch president of the largest National Association for Advancement of Colored People. After marrying Edgar, Lois also became actively involved in the Civil Rights of local residents of Color in Flint and Africans in Africa. On October 1, 1960, the Holts joined in the joyous celebration as Nigeria became an independent nation. Thereafter, the Holts started an import and export business and other trading companies such as selling cement and rice to Nigerian businessmen. They also assisted African college students, especially at Michigan State University with immigration, financial problems, and employment opportunities in Flint. Lois and Edgar also created the Edgar B. and Lois Van Zandt Holt Scholarship (University of Michigan-Flint) awarded to students who have a 3.0 GPA. Must be African-American or Black for minority students who have leadership skills and demonstrate a commitment to community service, and the promotion of human rights. Lois enjoyed reading (she loved reciting poetry), traveling, cooking, playing bridge, and shopping. She was known for the way she dressed by wearing lovely pieces of jewelry and the finest clothes. Lois was a faithful member of Bethel United Methodist Church, where her entire family attended. She was on the League of Women Voters, the International Institute, the Woodside Church, and the NAACP. She was also, a member of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, The Urban League, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. In addition, she was a charter member of the Flint Chapter of the National Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs. Lois was a gracious lady who enjoyed entertaining at her home and she would make sure visitors signed her guestbook before leaving. She was known for her famous homemade rolls and lemon meringue pies. She loved children and was an ardent advocate for fairness and justice for ALL people. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar B. Holt; parents, Morris and Josephine VanZandt; sisters, Ruth VanZandt, Catherine VanZandt and Janie Bell Hayes Adams; uncles, Roscoe and Teddy VanZandt; cousins, Etoya VanZandt Johnson, Claire VanZandt Hurd, Terri Simpson, Mable VanZandt, Joereatha VanZandt Tucker, Hendriss VanZandt Heasley, Robert Tucker, and Bill and Mary Holt; and god-daughters, Connie and Tanya Edwards. Lois Elizabeth Josephine Holt is survived by: nephew, Morris (Gail Yvonne) Fulford of West Palm Beach, FL; niece, Janice Fulford of Daytona Beach, FL; special cousins, Colleen (Winston Roberts) Jenkins of Canoga Park, CA., Sheretha Tucker of Savannah, GA., Silvester “Keymo” (Lourdes) Knox of Chula Vista, CA, Saunya Knox of Savannah, GA, Sheila Taylor, Gordon and Lyle Taylor, all of Ypsilanti, MI and William Holt of Flint; god-daughters, Fueke Are and Acire McDonald. She was also embraced by the Carter, Holt and Tucker families and had numerous friends at Bethel, the church she loved including Ada Mae Hart, Ginger Edwards, Nina Lewis, Vera Birch, Barbara Wesley, and Rickey Rodriquez and residents at Lockwood. The family wishes to thank all of the doctors, nurses and caregivers at Argentine Care Center for all of their loving support.

Mrs. Lois E. Holt

April 6, 1916 - April 22, 2017