Lillie Gladys Holcomb, age 101, passed away Monday, January 11, 2016, following an extended illness.
Born on March 2, 1914, in the Amy’s Creek community of Habersham County, Gladys was the daughter of the late Walter Franklin Holcomb and Mary Burke Holcomb of Clarkesville. She was preceded in death by her parents and all her siblings.
Gladys Holcomb is survived by one nephew and his wife: Paul and Jean Holcomb of Columbia, SC, and three nieces and their husbands: Katherine and Johnny Workman of Clarkesville, GA; Anne and Rick Belser of Charleston, SC; and Lou and David Evans of Clarkesville, GA. She is also survived by six great-nieces and two great-nephews, as well as two great-great-nieces and eight great-great-nephews.
Educated in Habersham County Schools, she held degrees from Piedmont College and the University of Georgia. She had a long teaching career that began in 1933 and extended until she retired in 1972. Gladys Holcomb devoted her life to the task of inspiring and stimulating young people to reach their full potential. She was known for giving the students warmth, kindness and understanding but always with a firm hand. Upon her retirement, she was honored by both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly for her outstanding service to education. She was inducted into the Habersham County Educators Hall of Fame in 1988, and in 1998 she received the Excellence in Education award presented by Piedmont College Alumni Association.
Her service to her God and her church were of primary importance to Gladys Holcomb. She was a member of the Clarkesville Baptist Church for more than 80 years and served the church in many areas. In addition she also served her community in various volunteer positions, including the Red Cross, the DAR, and the AARP.
The family will receive friends at Hillside Memorial Chapel on Friday, January 15, from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 16, at 2:00 PM at the Clarkesville Baptist Church. Interment will follow the service in Clarkesville Memorial Cemetery.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Gladys Holcomb Scholarship, Office of Institutional Advancement, Truett-McConnell College, 100 Alumni Drive, Cleveland, GA 30528, or to the Clarkesville Baptist Church, PO Box 667, Clarkesville, GA 30523.
An online guest registry is available at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.
Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville is in charge of arrangements.
