Julie Anderson Holderness

Julie was born in Raleigh on April 7th, 1950, the middle child of Jean Norwood Anderson and the late Frank Ramseur Anderson, Jr. She graduated from Broughton High School, in 1968, and attended Stratford College before raising a family.

She was a bright and compassionate soul, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. To know Julie was truly to love her. We will miss her fun-loving spirit, her quick sense of humor and her infectious laugh. Her interests and talents included travel, the outdoors from the mountains to the sea, gardening, photography, painting, music and dancing among so many. She cherished and nurtured her relationships with friends and family, and encouraged us all to slow down and take in the beauty and simple pleasures of God’s great earth. Julie was thoughtful, empathetic, and a firm believer in the power of the hand-written note. If ever there was something to celebrate, to mourn, to hope for–she immediately put pen to paper to make sure people knew her thoughts were with them.

Julie treasured the friendships she made through her memberships in the Historical Book Club, Wednesday Literary Club, and Little Gate Garden Club, as well as Greensboro Cotillion, the Greensboro Debutante Club, and First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

The brightest light in every room, Julie was never happier than when she was surrounded by her cherished family. She never missed a chance to make you feel loved and special. More than anything, she adored her husband of 44 years, Richard. Theirs was truly one of life’s great love stories, one that has and will continue to inspire all of us as an example of mutual love, respect and kindness.

She is survived by the great love of her life, Richard Thurston Holderness, and the beautiful blended family they created together: daughters Hilary McRee Ferrel (JJ) of Greensboro, Anne Vance Avera (Hugh) and Julie Holderness Shaw (Gavin), both of Raleigh, sons Richard Thurston Holderness, Jr. (Aijan) of Greensboro, Howard Austen Holderness (Chloe) of Washington DC, and Frank Anderson Holderness of Brooklyn. She is survived by 13 much beloved grandchildren: Aipara, Addie and Eric Holderness; Amelia and Frances Holderness; Fuller and Penn Carr; Oliver, Jeanie and Rorie Avera; Lucy, Adelaide and Georgina Shaw and one great-granddaughter, Rylee Carr. In addition to her mother, Jean Norwood, of Raleigh, she is also survived by her sister, Carol Cooper Thornhill (George), her brother George Norwood Anderson (Katherine), both of Raleigh, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, July 15th at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, 228 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC. A private family graveside service will be held at Historic Oakwood Cemetery prior to the memorial service. The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service in the church parlor.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the Avery County EMS, Cannon Memorial Hospital, and all those who made heroic efforts to help in the midst of such a terrible tragedy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Linville Foundation, P.0 Box 99, Linville, NC 28646. The Foundation inspires, encourages, and supports students in their pursuit of college, graduate, or vocational education through financial aid and the granting of scholarship awards. Alternatively, to your local American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (https://secure.aspca.org/donate/donate).

Services provided by Brown-Wynne, 300 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh.