Mr. George Louis Holland

Mr. George Louis Holland departed this life on July 21, 2011, at Rose Arbor Hospice of Kalamazoo. He was born on April 24, 1953, in Covington, Tennessee, the son of George Ruffin and Mary Frances (Dyson) Holland, both whom preceded him in death. George loved God and accepted Christ at an early age at Shiloh C.M.E. Church in Covington, Tennessee, and was previously a member of the original Bible Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. George graduated from Frazier High School in 1971, in Covington, Tennessee. He was united in marriage to his wife, Henrietta McGrew, on November 23, 1972. They were married for 38 years. From that union, one child was born, April D. Holland. George was a former employee of: The Checker Motors Corp., Burroughs Corp., Montgomery Wards, Miller Davis, Holloway Construction of Detroit, and Globe Construction Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He worked as a certified heavy equipment operator for the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 324, retiring from Globe in November 2008 after 35 years of dedicated service. George loved all children, especially his grandchildren. He loved to cook and bar-b-que on his special designed grill and feed all who wanted to enjoy. In his earlier years, he took pleasure in playing softball, basketball, fishing, hunting, bowling, dancing and gardening. He was always involved with all family members, and for him, there was no separation between blood-line family members and in-laws, as he adored and loved them all. He leaves to cherish his memory a loving and devoted wife: Henrietta; two daughters: April D. Holland and Joyce D. Smith of Kalamazoo; eleven grandchildren: Mario MacIntosh, Ashley Holland-Freeman, Dontario Hughes, Janai' Holland-Freeman, Javontay Smith, Tyler Holland, Jalen Holland, Alecia Freeman, Kianna Jones, Jason Freeman, Jr., and Anai Freeman, all of Kalamazoo; six adorable great grandchildren. George's life was shared with five siblings: Georgia Mae (Exum) Williamson of Memphis, Tennessee, Rev. Michael Holland, Sr. of Portage, Michigan, Carolyn (Napoleon) Boyd of Mason, Tennessee, Mattie Holland of Arlington, Tennessee, Brenda (Norris) McCaskey of Kalamazoo, and Cora (Jerrold) Seymore of Covington, Tennessee. He also leaves his beloved aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. James E. and Odessa Nelson of Kalamazoo, a step-grandmother, Sallie Holland of Dyersburg, Tennessee, a special nephew, Adrian (Hoody) Jackson, a god-son, Philip Eric McGrew; special cousin and friend, Thurston Jackson; six sisters-in-law: Carolyn Jackson of North Carolina, Diane Scott of Indiana, Susan (Edward) Laneaux of Mississippi, Kathy (Pearce) Gilbert of Wisconsin, Patricia McGrew of Kalamazoo, and Lucille McGrew of Illinois; four brothers-in-law: Charles (Marla) McGrew of Washington (state), Ronnie (Karen) McGrew of Pontiac, Richard McGrew of Kalamazoo, and Milton (Mary) McGrew of Illinois. A host of loving uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends love and will miss him. Special "Deuces" to Jamar McCaskey!

Mr. George Louis Holland

April 24, 1953 - July 21, 2011