Mrs. Henrietta Holland

September 22, 1953 - March 15, 2021

****TABERNACLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST IS HOSTING PRIVATE SERVICES FOR THE FAMILY OF MRS. HENRIETTA HOLLAND ****A PRIVATE INTERMENT WILL BE HELD AT RIVERSIDE CEMETERY***** If you have any questions please contact us at: (269) 342-1000 for us to help you. _________________________________ THE OBITUARY Mrs. Henrietta Holland departed this life on March 15, 2021, at her residence in Portage, Michigan. She was born on September 22, 1953, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the daughter of Henry and Dollie Mae (Phillips) McGrew, both of whom preceded her in death. Henrietta loved God and accepted Christ at an early age at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1971, attended Parsons Business College (Davenport University), Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Western Michigan University, where she matriculated at the college’s Hawthorn College of Business. Henrietta was a former employee of National Water Lift, UpJohn/Pfizer Healthcare, and Comstock School District. On November 23, 1972, Henrietta was united in marriage to George L. Holland; this union lasted for 38 years up to his passing in 2011. From that union, a daughter was born, April Denise Holland, whom was her very pride and joy. Henrietta also gained a loving step-daughter, Joyce Denise Smith, whom she loved as her very own. Henrietta loved all children, especially her grandchildren. Lovingly referred by them as “G”. She enjoyed feeding the younger ones popsicles, making “to-go” zip-lock bags filled with treats, and during sleepovers was notorious for feeding them strawberries with sugar. She loved cooking, one of her specialties being canning--making homemade jams and jellies. She was known for making great macaroni and cheese as well as a “mean” bar-b-que sauce, which she was willing to share. Besides cooking, Henrietta enjoyed playing chess, completing puzzles, casino gaming, dancing, and listening to her jazz music. She loved all her family and wanted to ensure that all knew of the ancestry makeup, by creating a genealogy research study, of which she worked on for numerous years. Henrietta held a love for fast, old school sports cars, and spending time at the gun range. She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters: April D. Holland and Joyce D. Smith, both of Kalamazoo; eleven grandchildren: Ashley (Jonel) Raymonvil, Janai (James) Gardner, Tyler Holland, Jalen Holland, Alecia Freeman, Jason Freeman, Jr., Anai Freeman, all of Kalamazoo; Mario (Courtney) McIntosh of Orlando, Florida, Dontario Smith, Javontay Smith, Sr., Kiana Jones all of Kalamazoo as well. She also leaves fourteen great-grandchildren: Aiden and Adrian Raymonvil (Ashley/Jonel), Jordynn and James Gardner, Jr. (Janai/James), Camarion, Camira and Camora McIntosh (Mario/Courtney), Dontario Jr. and Knowledge Smith (Dontario), Javonaty, Jr. (Javontay) Jayda, Zariah, Salayna Smith and Jase Anderson; a special nephew Adrian (Hoody) Jackson, and a god-son/nephew, Phillip Eric McGrew; “honorary grandchildren” Aaron Bronson, Jessie Carver Jr. and Ryan Washington, all of Kalamazoo. Henrietta’s life was shared with twelve siblings: Milton (Mary) McGrew, Lucille McGrew, Diane Scott, all of Illinois, Charles (Marla) McGrew of Washington (state), Carolyn Jackson of North Carolina, Richard McGrew of Kalamazoo (deceased), Ronnie (Karen) McGrew of Wisconsin, Patricia (Todd) of Kalamazoo, Susan McGrew of Mississippi, Kathy (Pierce) Gilbert of Georgia, Lynell McGrew of Kalamazoo (deceased) and Linda (James) Sims of Illinois and. She also leaves her beloved “aunt-in-law” Odessa Nelson of Kalamazoo, five sisters-in-laws: Georgia Mae Williamson, Carolyn (Napoleon) Boyd, Mattie Holland, and Cora Holland, all of Tennessee; Brenda McCaskey of Kalamazoo. She also leaves one brother-in-law, Reverend Michael (Sophia) Holland Sr. of Kalamazoo and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. As Henrietta would say to her grandchildren at the end of every visit, “Stay safe out there in this cold, cruel world”. She also let them know she loved them.