Margaret Combs Holland

Margaret loved being with family, was a devoted mother and loved every minute with her grandchildren. She enjoyed entertaining people with her musical talent and telling anyone who would listen her silly jokes. She was born in 1935 in Marietta and graduated from Marietta High School in 1952. She was a precocious and talented musician, who began playing the piano at the age of four and went on to master the accordion and organ. She enjoyed a rewarding career as a piano teacher, church organist and music educator. Margaret was an elementary music teacher in Decatur, GA while continuing her private piano instruction and also serving as church organist and music director across multiple denominations. Margaret earned her Bachelor’s Degree of Music at Converse College in 1956 with a major in piano performance and a minor in organ. In 1986 she earned a Master’s Degree of Music Education at Georgia State University. Music was a defining element of Margaret’s life and she shared her talent and love for music with countless students, audiences and congregations. Her performance highlights include recitals with the Atlanta Community Orchestra, touring and singing with the German-American Choir in Germany, and solo recitals for many in the Atlanta area. At home, there was never a dull moment as Margaret shared her love of piano with her three children and all her grandchildren to be sure they were given the opportunity to learn to play the piano properly.

Margaret served her Lord Jesus and helped others. She was devoted to the Christian church where ever she lived throughout her lifetime, and she loved to participate in worship, Sunday school, bible study and choir as well as professional organist positions. In addition to her church life, she also volunteered at numerous organizations including the Cartersville Medical Center Outpatient Center, the Tellus Museum in Cartersville, the Smokey Mountain Host Welcome Center in Franklin, NC and tutored reading through the Book Buddy program at her local library. She was also a life-long learner, who participated in continuing education programs at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in English Literature. She learned and spoke German after living abroad for three years and later in life began learning Spanish.

During her lifetime, Margaret made her home in the Atlanta metro area as well as in Peachtree City, GA; Neu Anspach, Germany; Franklin, NC; Signal Mountain, TN; and Cartersville, GA. She is survived by her husband Alton Holland; her three children Max Pavlovsky, Margie Erdoes and Suzuko Knott; and her grandchildren Tori and Joshua Pavlovsky, Corey and Casey Erdoes, and Auggie and Felix Knott; and her dog Buddy.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Margaret C. Holland will be held at 2pm on September 27th, 2019 at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in the Wilson Chapel, 3434 Roswell Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305. A reception will be held in the Williams Center directly following. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association. www.alz.org/donate