Obituary of Lucinda Holderness

Lucinda Holderness passed away peacefully on July 8, 2016. Lucinda was born on February 5, 1937 in Greensboro, North Carolina to the late Adelaide and Howard Holderness. She was a 1958 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, a Chapel Hill resident for over 50 years, and a devoted Tar Heel fan her entire life. She was a champion for public education and donated her talents to both the town and the University. Examples of her dedicated and creative support included serving as a founding board member of the local YMCA and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation and delivering books to elementary students dressed as "Graciefred the Reading Angel." She was an initial funder of the Holderness Fellowship at the UNC Medical School and supported the restoration and maintenance of the Bell Tower. She treasured her garden and possessed a flair for decorating her home, particularly during the Christmas season. She was given the gift of exceptional curiosity, loved to travel and was a lifelong student of history, politics, art, theater and music. Lucinda's many pursuits and passions paled in comparison to her overwhelming love for her family. She loved nothing better than to laugh and share time with them. She is survived by her four children; Adelaide Wilcox King (Ruffin) of Charlottesville, VA; Sandra Wilcox Conway (Peter) and Melissa Wilcox Bond (Brett) of Charlotte, NC and Reid Wilcox (Suzanne) of Greensboro, NC. Her eleven grandchildren were the joys of her life: Alexandra Hampton and Robert Ruffin King; Peter Jenkins, Benson Holderness, and Adelaide Scott Conway; Brett Neal, Lucinda Borders, and Reid Wilcox Bond and Benson Reid, Henry Clark, and Elizabeth Suzanne Wilcox. Her devotion to family was rooted in the blessing of growing up in a large extended North Carolina family and in her cherished childhood memories of times spent together in Tarboro, Cape Lookout, Greensboro and Chapel Hill. Her caring and remarkable sisters, Sandra Davis of Raleigh and Pam Hassenfelt of Greensboro, were also her lifelong best friends. Their husbands, Lawrence Davis and Steve Hassenfelt, her brothers and their spouses, Howard and Mary Holderness, Richard and Julie Holderness of Greensboro, and her many nieces and nephews also provided a firm foundation of happiness and strength for Lucinda. Lucinda deeply valued her many talented, hilarious, and faithful friends. Lucinda's children would like to express heartfelt gratitude for all the support and love given to our mother by these devoted friends, particularly Tina and Jerry Bell. We offer special appreciation to those Lucinda considered just-like family including Carolyn Cheek, Lucy Fearrington, Sennie Moore, Eliza Torain, and Calvin Watson. In addition, we would like to thank Dr. Jan Busby-Whitehead, Dr. Jim Bryan, and the staff of The Cedars for their care and expertise. We will miss Lucinda/Mom/Cinda and her unique spirit and she will remain in the hearts of the many who loved her. A private graveside service was held on July 10th, and a celebration of her life with friends and extended family will occur in Chapel Hill in December. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation (PO Box 877, Carrboro, NC 27510), The Lucinda Holderness Bell Tower Fund (PO Box 309, Chapel Hill, NC 27514), or your favorite liberal cause. Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.walkersfuneralservice.com