Willis 7 years ago

Willis Lee Holder, Sr.
February 28,1948  to  May 29,2006

Family-Placed Death Notice

Willis Lee Holder, Sr., born February 28,1948 in Hamilton County, TN, passed away May 29,2006, at his home in Lamar County, GA. Son of Ray Calvin Holder and Mearl Lee Cooper, he was a decorated Vietnam War veteran and 25-year employee of the Atlanta Municipal Court. He is survived by his two children, Willis Lee Holder, Jr. and Candace Leigh Holder, as well as two grandsons, Jordan Cole Holbert and Jaden Sebastian Ramsey. He was a profoundly generous and kind-hearted man who touched all who were fortunate enough to meet him. His final days were spent with his family and he is now reunited with his beloved ancestors in the Kingdom of Heaven. Memorial services will be held in Decatur, GA at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to the American Heart Association or a comparable charity. A. S. Turner & Sons

Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 6/6/2006.

Messages from Friends and Family

Willis Holder Sr. was a mountain of a man born in Tennessee. His attributes were many including intellect, wisdom, humor, and a profound love of music. He stood high among men with his gift of telling a story, lending a hand to anyone that needed his help and his love for his family every moment of every day. He was a kind spirit, and he had a laugh and smile that would light up a room, or all outdoors. I am blessed to have met and known this man on the road of life and to have called such a good soul, a friend. He will be missed but never forgotten. May God bless the family during their time of bereavement.

Kevin Forier (Atlanta, GA )  kforier@atlantaga.gov
 
Our sympathy and prayers go out to the Holder family during this time of sadness. Willis will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Hugh Bowen Family (Marble, NC ) hlb1112@earthlink.net
 

Please accept my deepest sympathies. My heart goes out to all of the family and friends of Willis. It was an honor to know him through his dedicated work at the Atlanta Municipal Court. I speak for myself and others in the appreciation of all the hard work and efforts he made to help others.

Frederick Sanders - Astro Bonding Co. (Atlanta, GA )
 

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your hearts be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life that was well lived.

Phyllis Davis (Lithonia, GA )

While working directly under Mr. Holder,I encountered such a wonderful, enlightening experience.
Mr.Holder is a man of excellent knowledge, honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, fun and laughter.He's also a skillful culinary artist.In short, he is a genuine good man, and I will miss him dearly.

Sonia Rossman (Lithia Springs, GA ) srossman@atlantaga.gov
 

Little Willis,
Your Father was such a wonderful, kind man. I got to know him through Ellen and Julian. We shared many wonderful times and meals at their home. I enjoyed his love of God, his love of music, and his deep pride in everything that you did with your life. Your Dad had a stong spiritual side and faith that he imparted to anyone that knew him. His rich sense of humor and ability to tell a great story will be missed. I pray that you have strength to go through this tremendous loss. He loved you with all his heart. God bless you, Willis.
Tara Gregory (friend of Ellen, Julian, and Justin)
Please play "Farther Along" for him. He once told me it was a favorite.

Tara Gregory (Lilburn, GA ) TaraFGregory@aol.com
 

To the Holder family:
My prayers go out to all of you during this difficult time. It was an honor and privilege to know Willis. He was truly a great person with a terrific personality, smart wit, intelligence and work ethic that all of us should strive to have. It will be difficult to go to the Atlanta Municipal Court in the future without Willis being there to call me "Colonel", but I know that God now has Willis upstairs to pass out and share his infinite wisdom to all the fortunate souls in heaven.

Frank Gomez (Marietta, GA )

we will miss you...now you are in GODS hands...........love always altanett bowman ( sister-in-law)AND MIRANDA KING

ALTANETT BOWMAN (dayton, TN ) honey200610@earthlink.net