Clarence Holley

Clarence William Holley

Wrens, GA  –              Clarence William Holley, 90, loving husband of 60 ½ years to Nell Anderson Holley, entered into his eternal rest Tuesday evening, December 19, 2017 at University Hospital in Augusta. The funeral service to celebrate his life will be held in the James Funeral Home Chapel at 11:00 A.M., Saturday morning, December 23, 2017 with Rev. Albert Stroupe officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the Wrens Memorial Cemetery.

One of eleven children born to the late Mary Elizabeth Johnson Holley Terry and the late Jasper Lee Holley, Clarence was a lifetime resident of Wrens.  After graduating from Wrens High School, he proudly joined the Navy serving our country in World War II.  A patriot, he was an honored member of American Legion Post 229 for 33 years. Upon his return home, he farmed for a while before working as a welder for Southern Natural Gas, retiring after 37 years of service. He then unselfishly volunteered at University McDuffie for 20 years. Clarence enjoyed working in his shop—“fixin’ things”.  Always a thinker and a tinkerer, he held a patent for a hanging basket self-watering apparatus. He found great enjoyment drinking his morning coffee and watching birds as they visited his bird feeders.  Clarence also loved gospel music and singing in the church choir, the men’s quartet, and with his family at their reunions.  His most important role in life was being a born-again Christian. As a young boy, Clarence accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and served Him faithfully at Mt. Horeb Baptist Church where he was a deacon for over 50 years, Sunday School director and teacher, song leader, choir member, church treasurer, building and grounds maintenance ....just to name a few of the various positions he held over the years.  His ministry included faithful, regular visits to the sick and those in the nursing home.  He loved people—his main concern was their spiritual well-being.  This strong-willed man of faith was a devoted, loving husband and father who had an absolute, unconditional love for his family. We mourn his passing, but celebrate him reaching his eternal home where he is singing in that heavenly choir.

Clarence is also preceded in death by his precious son, Wayne William Holley; two sisters, Sandra H. Norton and Sarah H. Gay; and step-father, Ernest Terry. Other survivors include his two daughters, Susan H. Newsome (Steven) and Nancy H. Chance; eight siblings, Annie H. Anderson, David Holley, Gloria H. Jones, Janette H. Perdue (W.J.), Lamar Holley (Bonnie), Shirley H. Reese (Temus), Robert Holley (Ruby) and Tony Holley (Gail); two grandsons, Kyle Eisele (Leigh) and Austin Newsome (Jessica); three great grandchildren, Ethan Andrews, Jason Andrews and Clayton Ford; two brothers-in-law, Judson Gay and Jimmy Norton; step sister, Jimmie T. Gay; a multitude of nieces, nephews and cousins; and his church family and many friends.  Serving as pallbearers will be David Chance, Gary Gay, Dennis Holley, Jimmy Ivey, Willis Jones Jr., Johnny Jordan, Douglas Norton and Steve Perdue.  Honorary pallbearers will be members of the American Legion Post 229.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Legion Post 229, P.O. Box 29, Wrens GA 30833.

The family will receive friends at James Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Friday evening, December 22, 2017.

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The Serenity Prayer

Amen.

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He Is Gone