Hilda Holder

Hilda Martin Holder, 99, of Bainbridge, GA, died Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at her residence. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 12, 2010 at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Gerald A. Little officiating. Interment will follow at Oak City Cemetery with Buz Livinsgston, Joe Livingston, Charlie Livingston, Scott Kester, Max Griffin, and Clayton Penhallegon serving as active pallbearers. The family will receive friends Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com . Hilda was born in Bainbridge, GA on March 4, 1911, the daughter of William Dowse Martin and Louise Battle Martin. Arithmetic will tell us that she was 99 years old. A grandson would tease her and say "You are older than the state of Arizona." She lived a long and fruitful life which began in the Bainbridge grammar schools. She could recall the dirt streets of Bainbridge, playing with her brother Bill, and lived through wars, tribulations, and the joys of life. The family moved to Birmingham, AL where she attended Monte Vallo School. After completing a business course, she worked for American Airlines in Nashville, TN, in the early years of flight. In 1935, she married Arthur Holder. It was with his job with Attapulgus Clay Company that they would hop scotch around the country from Jackson, MS to Philadelphia, PA. Their daughter, Carolyn, was born in 1937. His work took them to California for seven years, then back to Pennsylvania. Finally, the compass headed south and they returned to their roots in their hometown of Bainbridge in 1953, when Arthur was called to be president of the Engelhard Corporation. Her shining years were those she spent as secretary at Bainbridge High School. She served as counselor, comforter and Mother Superior to countless students who came to the office with tears, smiles, troubles, or without lunch money, which she lent them. Some commented later that some forgot to pay her back, but their hugs and smiles in later years was payment enough. Her favorite pastime in later years was playing bridge. She commented not long ago "All of my bridge playing friends were gone and are all up there'. Maybe they think I've gone the other way'." She died March 9, 2010. If you heard a rumble in the heavens that day, it was not thunder. It was her friends pushing back their chairs from the bridge table and welcoming her to the game with "Hilda, we have been missing you. Shuffle the cards. It's your deal." She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Holder Livingston and her husband Mayo of Bainbridge, GA; five grandchildren, Christie Kester, Scott Kester and his wife Tracy, Buz Livingston and his wife Susan, Joe Livingston and his wife Jenny, and Charlie Livingston and his wife Kay; and eleven great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts would be appreciated and may be made to First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 7067, Bainbridge, GA 39819, or Flint River Hospice, 402 N. West St., Bainbridge, GA 39817, or the Bainbridge-Decatur County Humane Society, P.O. Box 429, Bainbridge, GA 39818.