Barbara O'Brien Holland
Holland, Barbara O’Brien
Born in New York City on May 5, 1938, to Vincent & Gladys O’Brien, where she lived in Parkchester in the Bronx of NYC. She graduated from St Helena’s High School in 1956 where she was class president. She received a full scholarship to St. Vincent School of Nursing in Manhattan where she was student body president and graduated in 1959. After graduating she moved to San Francisco with a group of friends and began her nursing career. There she met a naval officer who asked her to play tennis. After a short courtship she married Morgan Holland on July 1, 1961, in New York City. They moved to Aiken, SC and then to Martinsville, VA, in 1966.
She was a longtime member of Christ Episcopal Church, the Garden Study Club, Chatmoss Country Club, the Charity League, and was a Master Gardner.
Her main interests were first her three children. She encouraged her children to play sports and excel in school. Her second main love was her seven grandchildren. She enjoyed introducing them to her background via special trips to the Big Apple and her famous summer ‘Camp Holland’ which was for grandchildren ONLY.
Her professional interests centered around nursing. Barbara worked as an RN of the old Martinsville General, worked with the Drug & Alcohol Council, ran the allergy clinic at CMC, and was Director of Nursing at Blue Ridge Nursing Home. She continued her academics with classes at Hollins College and then graduated with a BS from Averett College.
Barbara was an avid snow skier, learning in upstate New York and then teaching her family on the North Carolina slopes of Beech and Sugar Mountains. Especially memorable were the family ski trips to Aspen with her children and grandchildren. She was also a tenacious tennis player her entire life. Tennis was the thing that first linked her to Morgan. Together with Morgan they taught their children and grandchildren to enjoy games on the court.
Barbara is survived by her husband Morgan of Martinsville, by her children Mary Beth Worch (Steve) of Marietta, Ga., Mark Holland (Carole) of Danville, Va., and Carolyn Kahn (Jeff) of Hickory, N.C., by her grandchildren Morgan Worch, Katie Wilkes (David), Elizabeth, Kate, & Grace Holland, and Brooks & Conner Kahn, and by her sisters Kathleen Collopy (Dennis) and Gladys Sullivan (Frank), her sister-in law Mary Beth Holland and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Monday, May 6 form 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Norris Funeral Services Martinsville Chapel. A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church Tuesday, May 7 at 2:00 p.m. Reverend John Adams will be officiating the service. A reception will follow at the Parish House.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Episcopal Church or the Garden Club of Virginia.
Norris Funeral Services, Inc. and Crematory, Martinsville Chapel will be serving the Holland family.
