Betty Joanne Holland

Betty JoAnne Holland, age 88, of Grayson, GA, passed away on July 8, 2025. Betty was born on September 14, 1936, in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada to Ainslie and Millie Sellars, the youngest of three children. She grew up on a farm in Amherstburg, going to a one room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. Her father went to this same small school. The expression about walking some distance to school in the snow really held true in Betty’s case as this is exactly what she did, being careful not to fall in the deep snow piles that built up on the sides of the road. The school was closed after Betty’s eighth grade year there. On a trip to Canada a few years ago, Betty took great pride in showing this school to a few of her granddaughters who were amazed at how small and quaint it was. After eighth grade, Betty started going to the larger middle school and high school in downtown Amherstburg. While in high school, she also studied piano and voice at the Ursuline School of Music in Windsor, Ontario.

When Betty was eighteen years old, she moved to Windsor to attend Windsor Business College where she earned a secretarial degree. After graduation from the business college, Betty moved to Detroit, Michigan as there were greater opportunities for employment there. It was in Detroit, while performing at Voice of Christian Youth events, that Betty met her future husband, Bill.

Bill and Betty married in 1958 and lived in Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC in the early years of their marriage. They eventually moved to Marietta, GA where they lived for approximately thirty-six years before moving to Canton, GA. Betty remained in Canton for many years after Bill passed away in 2008, and she so enjoyed participating in the garden club, several singing groups, a theater group and a knitting club. Betty also enjoyed volunteering at Falany Performing Arts Center on the campus of Reinhardt College. Betty eventually moved to Lilburn to be closer to family and then to a wonderful, assisted living facility in Grayson – Dogwood Forest. At Dogwood Forest, she settled in nicely and easily made friends with other residents. She felt the love of the staff members, who sincerely cared about her. She felt the same way about them, often sharing sweet stories of daily events with her family members. If she was ever away from the facility, when she returned, she was always anxious to catch up on whatever she may have missed. Her family found out after she passed, that Betty had been dancing away at an event, just one week earlier, with the biggest smile on her face.

Betty was deeply involved in church from a young age. Her lifelong faith in Christ was often best expressed through music and she was honored to sing in many choral groups throughout the years. Her steadfast faith in a loving God and her unwavering belief in eternal life sustained her through the loss of her husband and youngest son, Scott.

Betty’s passions included growing flowers, knitting, bird watching, beach walks looking for seashells, and time spent with her granddaughters and great-grandchildren. She especially loved holding and snuggling the babies of the family. Betty will be remembered for her musical talent, strong faith, hospitality, resilience, and dedication to family. She leaves behind a legacy of music and cherished family memories.

Betty is survived by her son, Stephen Holland (Linda) of Atlanta, her daughter, Stephanie Holland Williams (Bill) of Grayson, and her daughter-in-law, Christi Holland of Marietta. Betty was a beloved and treasured Grandma to seven granddaughters – Christine Baker (Austin), Danielle Allen (Miles), Victoria Holland, Catherine Holbrook (Jimmy), Courtney Hulmes (Alec), Shea Blood (Adam), and Shelby Chen (Chris), and ten great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Betty’s life will be held at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Lilburn on Sunday, July 20th at 2:00 with a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, Betty’s family is asking that donations be made in Betty’s memory to Falany Performing Arts Center, 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska, GA. 30183.