Martha Caroline Dills Holden, 92, of Wesser Creek Community went home to be with her Lord on January 23, 2012. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” Psalms 116:15. Born October 28, 1919 to the late Lush and Minnie Dills, she was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She was a homemaker and quilt maker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Anson Holden on March 20, 1976; one daughter, Velerie Holden; two sons, James Taylor Holden and William Edgar Holden; one grandson, Jack Dempsey Davis Jr.; one great granddaughter, Donna Marie Freeman; five sisters; and five brothers.

She is survived by nine daughters, Marie Owenby and husband Arnold of Jamestown, NC, Josephine Davis of Winston Salem, NC; Azalee Slagle of Whittier, NC; Patricia Simonds, Linda Lindsay and husband Jimmie, and Sandra Winchester and husband Dexter of Bryson City, Ruby Passmore and husband Tommy of Acworth, GA, Rosa Lee White of Marble, NC, Willa Mae Passmore and husband David Earl of Nantahala; one son, Robert Holden and wife Emmie of Bryson City; 17 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; and four great great grandchildren; one sister, Leona Caylor of Hazelwood, NC; and one daughter-in-law, Cindy Winchester Holden of Bryson City.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Nantahala Baptist Church of which she was a lifelong member. Revs. Jason Holloway, Eddie Stillwell, Randy Price, and J.T. Winchester will officiate with burial in Euchella Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Crisp Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 min. prior to the service.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Richard Morgan, Michael Davis, Clinton Slagle, Neil Holden, Calop Morefield, Michael Winchester, David Passmore, and W.T. Holden. Honorary pallbearers will be Phillip and Felix Passmore.