Laurie S. Holland's Obituary
Laurie S. Holland
Laurie Holland, 84, passed away on April 19th. Although she was born in Selmer, TN in her parents farmhouse, moving to Memphis at age 7, Laurie would consider herself a lifelong Memphian. She was a Messick High School graduate/hall monitor and an accomplished pianist, playing for Mayor Crump in her youth and at school programs while she was a teacher.
Laurie attended Memphis State University, receiving her degree in Education. She then taught at Ridgeway Preschool and homebound children until her twins started first grade, when she became a Special Education teacher in the Memphis City Schools until her retirement. During the twins’ teenage years, she returned to higher ed to escape them and earn her Masters +30.
Laurie was a long, long, long time member of Ridgeway Baptist Church and its previous iteration, Southern Avenue Baptist. She dearly loved her bible study groups and Sunday school classes there. She was a devoted teacher who had a positive impact on many struggling learners over her lifetime. Her patience and encouragement gave her students the confidence to learn skills they believed were inaccessible. She continued her love of students by tutoring before and after her retirement via Memphis City Schools, DeNeuville, Memphis College of Art, and anywhere else that asked for her help.
Laurie loved gardening and making her yard beautiful, going to the theater, and trying out recipes she didn’t think were good to share with her family. She loved feeding people, and was well known for generously trying to feed you while you were already eating.
Laurie loved spoiling her grandsons, time with them was precious to her, and she was notorious for belly laughing at their antics, particularly the naughty ones. While she appreciated silliness, she was also nurturing and steadfast, showing up for every game, ceremony, and event she could. She was the ideal grandmother.
She was kind, thoughtful, witty, and generous and will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her daughters, Julie Cupples and Leslie Holland, grandsons, Jonathan Cupples, David (Lindsay) Cupples, Chase Cupples, and Reid Holland-Allan. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Lisa Sloan, and her brother, Charles Steadman.
Visitation will be Tuesday, April 28 from 8:30-10am, with services at 10am at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery.
In lieu of customary remembrances, donations may be made to the Memphis Jewish Home, the Memphis Library Foundation, or the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home.
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