07/24/2015

Obituary for Dr. Henry Holden, Sr.

Father of Henry Holden, Jr., Funeral Director & Partner at L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 25, 2015 at the L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home for Dr. Henry Holden, Sr., 92, of Girard, Ohio who entered eternal rest on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at his home.

            Dr. Holden was born September 6, 1922 in Duncan, Mississippi, a son of Richard Julius and Ammie Bell Holden, moving to Toledo as an infant. He attended Gunckel Elementary School, Libby High School and graduated from South Carolina State College in 1944. He was enshrined in the South Carolina Basketball Hall of Fame. Dr. Holden was a great athlete who earned his way through college on a basketball scholarship, and was invited to play with both the Harlem Globe Trotters and the New York Renaissance. He entered Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, graduating in 1948. After graduating, he interned at Harlem Hospital in New York from 1948-1949, a year he describes as “the hardest one in his life”. He then took a residency in internal medicine at the Veteran Administration Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1942. He enlisted in the U. S. Air Force in 1952 and served as a flight surgeon in Korea. Following his military journey, he served on the medical staff of the Tuskegee VA Hospital.

            Dr. Holden met his future wife, the former Velma L. Alexander, at Meharry College, where she was attending nursing school. On June 19, 1948, Henry and Velma were united in Holy matrimony, and to this union three wonderful children were born. After serving in the military, Dr. Holden opened his medical office at 312 E. Federal Street and after 15 years, moved his practice to 932 Belmont Avenue, retiring in 1985, after serving the community for 50 years.

            Dr. Holden has served in the capacity of being the first black president of the Mahoning County Medical Society, and secretary-treasurer of the Youngstown Hospital Association staff.   He also served on the Board of Directors of Dollar Bank (later known as National City Bank, now known as PNC). He also served as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Western Reserve Care System (formerly Forum Health, now known as Valley Care). He was also past president of the Benedict Club, president of the Bid-Rite Bridge Club, member of the NAACP, member of the Ohio State Medical Association and AMA, and was a charter member and founder of the Youngstown Area Development Corp, and an active member of the Board of Directors for the L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home, Inc.

            His enjoyed Bridge and professional sports, basketball and football in particular. He used to attend games of the Cleveland Browns and basketball tournaments.

            He leaves to mourn his passing, but rejoice in his peace, his devoted children, Henry (Pamela) Holden of Youngstown, Rosalinde (Clifford) Smith of Woodbridge, VA and Michelle (Anthony) Robinson of Ft. Washington, MD; six beloved grandchildren, David (Joan), Brian (Raynetta), Trey, Olivia, Henry III and Lydia; five great grandchildren; his caregiver, Marlene Frances; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

            Waiting to greet him at Heaven’s Gate are his parents, Richard and Ammie; his beloved wife of 63 years, Velma, who passed away May 13, 2012; a son, Stephan Holden; a brother, Mansfield “Ace” Holden; and a sister, Carrie M. Jenkins.

            The family will receive friends on Friday, July 24, 2015 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday morning from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.