Eliza Patricia Mize Holcomb

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." Ps.91:4

This was in her heart when our beloved Trish left us on December 30th, 2010. Born to Posey and Nelda Mize in Henry County, VA on April 14th, 1954, Patricia Mize Holcomb began an amazing journey, one which led her to master and excel in many occupations: firefighter, stable manager, horse trainer, factory worker, teacher, and accountant. In addition to these obligations, she was also a top student, first at Patrick Henry Community College, then at Virginia Tech, Meredith College, and NC State University, where she graduated with highest honors in Agricultural Economics. She became a CPA, then set out to find a job requiring intelligence and quick thinking, skill and intuition, focus, determination and toughness, loyalty and discretion - and a great sense of humor. Quintiles recognized her abilities, and there she had the job she had hoped for, one that she loved. Her colleagues became treasured friends and companions in business travel in many parts of the World.

Committed as she was to her work, her first thought, her heart’s energy, was devoted to her children. To ensure their well being was the consuming drive behind every decision, every goal. She often asked for reassurance in the hard times, "Will Amanda and Derek be okay? Will we be okay?" But she never said "I give up," even when exhausted and discouraged. Patricia was relentless and inventive in her efforts to set all of her family, parents, siblings and children, on the path to health and happiness. Her life grew even richer twelve years ago when she met her husband George and his son and daughter, her heart grew again to love, nourish and encourage them and to accept their love in turn.

Trish's zest for life and joy was never more real than when she was with her horse, appropriately name "Fly With Jane." Horses were happiness for Trish, and Jane was her soulmate, feisty and spirited, beautiful, bright and stubborn. Trish told me once that when she and Jane flew over fences, she was truly who she wanted to be, free and flying clear of the earth. In her last year, unable to meet all of her goals, she resolved to practice her faith and to know more deeply her God. Trust and faith became her greatest strength and deepened her capacity to give to others in profound ways. She shared this new understanding with everyone she met, neighbors, friends, family and in the last months the doctors and nurses who cared for her at Duke. Our prayers were joined by hundreds of others, and the love and compassion of Christ shone through, giving comfort and hope to her friends, her grieving family and all others she encountered. She will never leave us.

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands ..."

Trish is survived by her husband of ten years, George Holcomb of Raleigh, NC; her children, Amanda Ihnen of Atlanta, GA and Derek Ihnen of Raleigh, NC; her stepchildren, Bart Holcomb of Arlington, VA and Shannon Holcomb of Greenville, NC; sisters and brothers Penny Keene of New Bern, NC, Elizabeth Mize of Charlottesville, VA, George Mize of Bassett, VA and Peter Mize of Fort Mill, SC, and her maternal aunt and second mother, Marie King of Durham, NC. She is also survived by loving cousins, nephews and a niece.

The family will receive visitors on Wednesday evening, 6 - 8 pm, January 5th, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to: HELPING HORSE THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM, 12200 Shooting Club Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613, 919-848-0153.