Mary Lindsay Holland

Mary Lindsay Gordon Holland, 93, of Statesville, passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at her home in Statesville from natural causes. Mary was born July 9, 1923, in Lexington, NC, the daughter of James Lindsay Gordon and Adelaide Hargrave Gordon of Lexington. Mary graduated from Lexington High School and was a proud alumna of Duke University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and was president of Kappa Delta sorority. After graduating from Duke, Mary attended the Katherine Gibbs School in New York City and had a successful career as a secretary at Pilot Life Insurance Co. in Greensboro and later as executive secretary to P. H. Hanes of Hanes Knitting Co. in Winston Salem. Mary enjoyed her family and a large circle of friends and enjoyed hosting her Kappa Delta sorority sisters for regular reunion weekends at her family beach home in Pawleys Island, SC, where she spent nearly every summer of her life. She had a lifelong love of books and needlecraft, was known for her sense of humor, her strong determination, and her love of the Duke Blue Devils. Mary was a lifelong Methodist and attended the Broad Street United Methodist Church, where she served as the first Chairman of the Altar Guild, as a Trustee, and on the Official Board and Council of Ministries. Mary was honored with Life Membership in United Methodist Women, and was a proud member of the Colonial Dames of America. Mary is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Stamey Jones Holland Jr., of Statesville, her son Stamey Jones Holland III, of Statesville, her daughter Martha James Holland, of San Francisco, CA, granddaughters Elizabeth Gordon Stais and Meredith Lindsay Stais, and son-in-law Anthony V. Stais. Her sister, Jessie Gordon "Bill" Wright preceded her in death. Memorial services will be held at the Broad Street United Methodist Church on Thursday, June 29 at 2:00 with Rev. Dr. Michael Gehring officiating. The family will receive friends after the service at the church. Her family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Broad Street United Methodist Church Foundation Fund, P O Box 169, Statesville, NC 28687 and the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duke Heath Department, 710 W. Main Street, Suite 200, Durham, N.C. 27701. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.