Mrs. Mary M. Holland

HOLLAND, Mrs. Mary M. - Age 86, passed away Saturday, April 16, 2016 at her residence. Family hour 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2016 at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 424 Kennelworth Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Dr. Major A. Stewart officiating. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:00 a.m. Saturday. Mrs. Holland will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Friday. In Lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org. Mary M. Holland was born January 21, 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri. She was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. William & Theresa McGee and in her early years was raised as a Catholic in Indianapolis, Indiana. Theresa McGee died and Ada Madden became her new mother when she and William McGee married. She attended St. Rita’s Catholic Church grade school and Crispus Attucks High School. She married Thomas David Smith and three children were born to this union: Thomas (Sandra), William and Angela. In 1955 she and her family moved to Flint Michigan. In the 1950’s and 60’s Mary worked at Yankee Department Store where she was the first African American to run a cash register in a white owned business in Flint, MI. In 1963 Mary and her husband Thomas divorced. In 1965 she married Ervin V. Holland. She united with Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church in the early 70’s as one of the first members of the church, working diligently on the Building Fund. She later united with Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church serving as Ada Berry Bible Class Secretary, “Olive Branch” Newsletter Chairperson, Trustee and Chair of the Trustee Board where she led the work resulting in the Roy I. Greer Family Life Center, Church Secretary among many other service roles. Mary was the first woman to serve as the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church Trustee Board Chair. She attended Baker College majoring in computers and assisted in setting up the Genesee County computer payroll system after which she found better employment at Hurley Medical Center. She retired from Hurley Medical Center after 19 years as payroll supervisor in 1989 where she was affectionately known as “Holland”. She was elected to several positions in the AFSCME Local 1973 union (last serving as union president) and was on the negotiation team for at least two contracts. She was the first woman in the Mt. Olive Security Ministry, was active in the Evergreen Valley Block Club and supported her husband, Ervin, in all of his many volunteer efforts. She was an active and avid supporter of her children and grandchildren in their many pursuits. She loved her family, her church and her community. She attributed her abilities, strength, kindness and seemingly never-ending love to the goodness and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom she dearly loved. She leaves to cherish her memory her children: Thomas E. (Sandra) Smith, (Plymouth, MI), Angela M. Reeves, Ed.D. (Davison, MI), and William D. Smith, J.D. (Flint, MI); grandchildren: Alise (Brian) Hunt-Larder (Williamsburg, VA), Alicia L. Smith (San Antonio, TX), Samuel E. (Kinetra) Reeves (Grand Blanc MI), Rachel A. Reeves (Atlanta, GA), William D. Smith, Jr, (Flint, MI), Mary E. Smith (Lexington, KY), Thomas A. Smith (Plymouth, MI), Sydney E. Smith (Plymouth, MI); great grandchildren: Amaia L. Smith-Guise (San Antonio, TX), Samuel E. Reeves, Luke A. Reeves and Noah J. Reeves all of Grand Blanc, MI, Sophia and Vivian Larder of Williamsburg, VA; Nieces: Helen (Edward) Mathews, Jr. (Indianapolis, IN), Sherrie Harris (Detroit, MI), Barbara Ann Messer (Germany), Denise A. Senter (Indianapolis, IN), Miriam Davis (Indianapolis, IN), Alicia Ganaway (Houston, TX), Kimberly Smith (Indianapolis, IN); Nephews: Jerry (Donita) Senter (Indianapolis, IN), Robert Smith (Indianapolis, IN), Raymond Hill, Jr. (Indianapolis, IN), George Messer, Franklin (Paulette) Senter (Indianapolis, IN), Ernest Bransford, Jr. (Flint, MI), Kenneth (Jacqueline) Bransford, (Flint, MI), Ricky (Colleen) Smith (Indianapolis, IN), Stephen (Tammy) Smith (Dallas, TX), Gregory (Nelly) Robinson (Santa Monica, CA), Jerome (Donneice) Robinson (Carmel, IN), Stephen Robinson, M.D. (Richland, MI), Michael (Rhoda) Robinson (Kalamazoo, MI), Rev. Dennis (Mona) Senter (Quincy, IL); In Laws: Arnold (Sylvia) Smith (Indianapolis, IN), Ernest (Pauline) Bransford (Flint, MI), Gilbert (Ella) Bransford (Flint, MI), Thayer Holland (Flint, MI): Special Cousins: James Thomas (San Francisco, CA), Brenda Melons (Aurora, CO), a host of other relatives, friends and the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church Family. Mary loved her family and the members of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 46 years, Ervin V. Holland, sisters, Theresa Hill and Marjorie Madden, in-laws Leroy and Ethel Robinson, Jerry and Allene Senter, Bobbie Holland, Robert Holland, nephews Lloyd Madden, Jr., Marvin Madden, Michael Smith; niece B. Marlene Dinwiddie, parents William, Theresa and Ada McGee and a host of other family members. The family would like to express special thanks to the staff at Brookdale Memory Care for their special care of Mary, Pastor Major Stewart and the many members of Mt. Olive who visited her regularly, especially the Ada Berry Bible Club, Deacons and Trustees. A very special thanks to Dr. Hindi Ahmed for her attention and care of our Mother over the years and especially during her last season of life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Altheimers.org.

Mrs. Mary M. Holland

January 21, 1930 - April 16, 2016