James R. Holland

James Robert Holland, 65, died Wednesday, June 05, 2013 at his residence. Funeral services and a celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday at Lawrence Drive Baptist Church with burial in Glen Haven Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Brad Marchman, the Rev. Phil Bryant and the Rev. Joe McDaniel will officiate. Serving as pallbearers will be Larry Sharpless, Bill Pilcher, Jr. Bostick, Rick Kitchens, John Alligood and Leon Hudson. The family will meet friends from 5 – 7 p.m., Thursday at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Pio Nono Avenue. They suggest that those who wish may make memorial contributions to Lawrence Drive Baptist Church, 5774 School Road, Macon, GA 31216.

Mr. Holland was born December 28, 1947 in Jacksonville, GA. He was the son of the late James Carlton and Lois Hulett Holland. Moving to Macon at the age of four, his brother Joey was born that December while the family lived on Broadway across from Art Furniture, Co. In the spring of 1954, the family moved to Walnut Street where James entered First Grade at Whittle Elementary School where he attended through the Second Grade. His family then moved to Dothan, Al in early summer of 1956 where James attended third Grade at Rose Hill Elementary School before moving in 1957 to Hapeville, GA where he attended fourth and fifth grades at Blair Village School. In the spring of 1959, the family moved back to Macon and James attended Alexander II for all of sixth Grade and beginning of seventh Grade. In October 1960, the family moved to Pershing Avenue in Southwest Macon. James finished seventh Grade at Jessie Rice Elementary and would enter Willingham Junior High in fall of 1961. James’ parents had told him that he could go out for a sports team in Junior High. Elementary schools in Macon had a weight limit of 135 pounds. Boys who weighed more than 135 couldn’t participate in school sports competition. James went out for Eighth Grade football. He became the starting left tackle in both offense and defense. The teams were outstanding, winning six of the eight games they played with one loss and one tie. James also played basketball, baseball and track that year, earning four athletic letters. He was a 1966 graduate of Willingham High School where he earned a total of seventeen athletic letters including ten varsity letters. He was class president twice, a Key Club member for three years and a Student Council member of five years. He was also among Senior Superlatives. James always looked forward to his Class Reunions. Following graduation, he attended Georgia Tech for two years. He enjoyed playing golf, travelling and was an avid Crimson Tide Football fan.

He worked for thirty-two years in the Uniform rental industry, the last twenty-three years being with Unifirst Corp. He also enjoyed two years of employment with Rutland Ace Hardware in Macon. James was a member of Lawrence Drive Baptist Church.

James loved his family and many friends and was the husband you wait all your life for. His son, Brad, was the largest star in his world – James often talked of the many heroes he admired from his school days, but as his wife, he’ll always be my hero.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sandy Swymer-Holland of Macon; his precious son, Brad (Meghan) Holland of New York, NY; his daughter, Gina Clapper of Milton FL; his mother, Lois Gunter of Macon; brother, Joey (Sheilah) Holland, Putney, GA; stepdaughter, Shelli (Dean) Bryant-Snell, Macon; his grandchildren, Kalen, Kyle, Adam and Kylie.

Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Pio Nono Avenue has charge of arrangements.