Emma L. Holland

Emma Lee Holland September 7, 1935 - April 11, 2015 Emma Lee Holland, 79, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2015 at Kindred Hospital in Albuquerque, NM with her family members by her side when she went to sleep to be with the Lord. Emma was born to James and Minnie (Williams) Fincher of North Carolina on September 7, 1935. She was born and raised in Pocahontas, Virginia and later moved to Maybeury, West Virginia at a young age where she resided with her Aunt. She attended Pocahontas and Maybeury Elementary Schools, and graduated from Elkhorn High School. She continued her education at Bluefield State College earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology, and a Master of Science Degree in Education Administration from Radford University. In addition, she was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Emma loved God with her whole heart, and she loved going to church. She was baptized at the age of five, and filled with the Holy Spirit at age twelve. She was a former member of Bishop Clarence Moore Greater Mt. Zion Pentecostal Church in Bluefield, WV. She was an active member of Restoration Life Ministries in Albuquerque, NM where she served as a Minister and Sunday School Dean and Superintendent. Emma was passionate about her work and going beyond the call of duty to teach children and others, helping to serve her community in many capacities, and gave everyone she worked with experiences that would be memorable for a lifetime. She worked for McDowell County Board of Education as a teacher at Kimball Elementary, where she was a cheerleading coach and formed the first dance team called the Kimbalites. She spent her early teaching career at one school until she became a principal over the following schools: Superior Elementary, Bradshaw Elementary, Keystone Elementary, and Welch Elementary from which she retired and moved to Albuquerque, NM. While principal at Keystone Elementary, Emma sponsored a Japanese intern, one of her many accomplishments. Emma loved her children, grandchildren, family, and friends; and her most memorable time that was precious to her was sitting in the pulpit preaching and lifting up the name of Jesus together with her brother Chico. Emma touched the lives of many people with her smile, kindness, encouragement, love, and generosity. She loved cooking, reading, watching game shows, teaching, encouraging others, praying, preaching, and football, the West Virginia Mountaineers, and the New Mexico State Aggies. Her yell could be heard all the way back to West Virginia, especially when the referees were accused of cheating. In May 2014, Emma had a stroke and became a patient at UNM Hospital and Anna Kaseman Rehabilitation. She became ill again on February 27, 2015 and was a patient at Presbyterian and Kindred Hospital where she fought the good fight of faith praising God until her passing “Well done my good and faithful servant”. Emma is survived by her second mother Catherine Fincher (AKA Granny/Cat); 2 daughters: Mondawena Holland-Walden and her husband Kevin Walden, Camelia Pearson and her husband John Pearson (AKA Tom); four grandchildren: Shanna and Abram Holland, Michael, John, and like a grandson Jason Williams; five great grandchildren: Elijah Kimbrough, Jaylen, Julian, Shaniece, and Makarius Pearson; 1 brother: James Fincher (AKA Chico) wife Inez Fincher. She also leaves behind her close friends Audrey Williams, Emma Lou Martin, Claudette Marcus, and Brenda Owens, and her sister-in-law Virginia, and a host of nieces, nephews, and along with countless family, friends, and Church Family. She was preceded in death by her husband: Walter Holland, daughter: Marie Holland, father: James Fincher, and mother: Minnie Williams. Acknowledgements The family would like to extend our gratitude to her caregivers: UNM Hospital Neurology, Presbyterian Hospitals, Anna Kaseman Rehabilitation, Home Health Care, and Rust Medical Center; Kindred Long Term Acute Care Hospital, and all of the families and friends, for their prayers and support to us during this time. Special thanks to her granddaughter Shanna, friends of the family Lashonda and Sandra, and her son-in-law Tom, and Abram her grandson who helped take care of our Mother to the end. The family would like to invite all to a Celebration of Emma’s Life at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2015 at FRENCH – Wyoming, 7121 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque with a reception following the Celebration of Life service at the FRENCH Reception Center.