Margaret A Holland

Margaret Elizabeth "Libby" Atkinson Holland was born in Helen, WV in 1921. She graduated McKindley Tech HS in Washington, DC where she grew up. She worked for the phone company during WWII. Her first marriage, although brief, gave her her "first born", Richard Eugene. Settling in to her second marriage to Stephen H Holland, Sr, who predeceased her by 18 years, they had Ruthann and Stephen H "Hank" Jr. Her devotion to her children was beyond imagination. When the children were small, she was a part of all their activities. Yet she managed to forge a small MLM business at that time with Beauty Counselor. In addition, she perfected her cake decorating skills and would have them at all family and friends special occasions.

Her out of the home jobs were mostly clerical and included time with Massachusetts Mutual, Dentists and Psychiatrists Office and for Colonial Village in Arlington. All the while she raised her children, volunteered and led in her church communities, most notably, St. Marks in Arlington and Fairfax UMCs in Fairfax, VA.

Yet, Libby's passion was Service. That huge part began as Ruthann went in to Job's Daughters. She then joined Eastern Star and led in Unity (formerly Mary Washington #50) and Haymarket Chapters. She led and served in the East a collective eight times as Worthy Matron. She supported Hank in Demolay and worked at the levels she could for women.

Her service continued throughout this time in her community, Falls Church Women's Club, where she served as President. In addition, Libby was very active in the Methodist Woman's organization and performed leadership roles in Fairfax, UMC in particular.

Her Faith drove her life! Not only were her long standing commitments to the Faith communities a huge part of her life, she extended that to being a part of the Emmaus community as well as the Branch that does prison ministries, on the outside and the inside up into her 80's.

Libby is survived by all of the world that she touched! Her family that survives her are children, Richard and Marilyn Holland, Ruthann Holland Pisaretz, Alexander Pisaretz and Stephen and Tracy Holland. Grandchildren are Donna Marie Holland, Miranda Elizabeth Holland and Olivia Alexandra Pisaretz. Great Grandchildren are Liam Allee, Gabraelle Allee, Shae and Cullen Allee.

Libby's home knew no boundaries! All of the neighborhood kids became like family (which meant they ALL had benefit of her wisdom) and included all of the Rogers kids: Tina, Michael, Jim, John and Judy, the McKittrick boys, Mike and David. And there were those "adopted" kids that actually included Emily Dixon Hood who lived with Aunt Libby and Uncle Steve when their first child was born. It continued with Hanks' friend Tory Brueck, Libby's co-worker at Mass Mutual, Nancy Bare and her Indian children, Chandrapal (Paul) and his sister, Sumangala (Sue) Kaman .

As Libby was recounting her enormous life, my dear friend, Diane K. Brown (who met Libby when Diane was 12yrs old in Job's Daughters), and Ruthann told her how she would live on in all that she had shared with each of the special people in her life, with all the wisdom and caring she shared! Pay it forward and REJOICE! In the life of Libby Holland.