Annabelle J. Holland

HURLOCK - Annabelle J. Holland, 70, died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, at Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge.

Mrs. Holland was born July 18, 1936, in Hurlock, the daughter of the late Hilton and Catherine Jenkins Elbert.

She attended Hurlock Elementary School and graduated from Mace's Lane High School in Cambridge in 1954. She graduated from Cortez W. Peters Business College in Washington in 1956. She then attended Hawaiian Beauty College in Washington, graduating as a certified beautician. She also attended Kirkland Hall College in Easton.

She was a member of Hurlock UM Church and chaired numerous committees within the church over the years. She served as chairperson of the Worship Committee and was president of the United Methodist Women. She was an active member of the missions and laity committees. In addition, she served as vice president of the Easton District United Methodist Women of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference.

Mrs. Holland retired from the Dorchester County Board of Education in June 2001, after 35 years of service. She worked as a secretary at Peachblossom Elementary School, Cambridge Middle School, North Dorchester Middle School, Cambridge Vocational Technical School and Hurlock Elementary. After retiring, she continued to work in the schools as a substitute teacher.

She was a member of several community organizations including the North Dorchester African-American Independent-Growth Alliance. She also served as Secretary for the Dorchester Retired Educators Association.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Alice Carr.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, William Holland Sr.; two sons and a daughter-in-law, William Holland Jr. of Hurlock, Trevor and Keisha Holland of Fruitland; one daughter and a son-in-law, Kimberly and V. Lamar Chandler of Dover, Del.; five grandchildren, Ebony Lyons of Hurlock, Jordyn Chandler, Lamar Chandler Jr., both of Dover, Trevor Holland Jr. of Wilmington and Toddrea Jackson of Fruitland; one sister and brother-in-law, Delores and JT Mosley of Hurlock; two cousins with whom she was raised, Joyce Nichols of Dover, Del. and Ronald Jenkins of Baltimore; one brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Frank and Mable Holland Sr. of Preston, two sisters-in-laws, Clara Walker of Federalsburg and Carrie Green of Preston; one aunt, Bertha Adams of Cambridge and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. today at Hurlock UM Church, Hurlock. Viewing was held at the church Monday, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Arrangements are being handled by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Hurlock.