Charles Aubrey Holley

Charles Aubrey Holley, 84, of Greenville, South Carolina, (formerly of Savannah, Georgia) passed away peacefully on Monday, March 31, 2025. Charles was predeceased by his wife of 57 years Anne Sexton Holley and his parents William Ralph Holley and Minnie Clyde Wooddy Holley.

Charles was a loving husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his friends, family, and especially his grandchildren.

Charles was born in West Point, Georgia, and grew up in Lanett, Alabama. He attended Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated with a degree in accounting.

Charles started his career in Birmingham with Progressive Farmer (now Southern Living). When he took a position with Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham, Charles moved into the healthcare industry, where he would stay for the rest of his career. Charles moved to Greenville, South Carolina to work for Piedmont Health Care Corporation where he served as financial director and eventually president. He subsequently took the position as president of Health America in South Carolina where he served for many years. Charles later worked for St. Francis Hospital in Greenville and then consulted with hospitals in Hickory, North Carolina. Charles ended his career in Savannah, Georgia as the chief operating officer in Georgia for a national healthcare corporation. Charles and Anne met in Birmingham after completing college. They lived in Birmingham, Alabama, Greenville, South Carolina, Hickory, North Carolina and eventually Savannah, Georgia, where they retired and lived for almost thirty years. Charles is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Anne Holley-Pender (William) of Greenville, South Carolina; a son, Charles Aubrey Holley, Jr. (Jennifer) of Charleston, South Carolina; three grandchildren, William L. Pender, III, Charles Kimble Pender, and Aubrey Anne Holley. Also surviving Charles are his two brothers-in-law, Richard Palmer Sexton, Jr., and Robert Ratliff Sexton (Kate) and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Charles loved spending time outdoors, be it in the mountains, at the lake, at the beach or in his backyard. He also enjoyed most sports, particularly in later years golfing and playing tennis. Additionally, traveling, boating, cheering on The University of Alabama football and fishing with his grandchildren were some of his favorite pastimes. Charles was often a coach and, also, an ardent fan of his children’s sporting events, particularly swimming at McCarter Pool, where he was a long-time referee and starter, basketball at First Baptist Church, tennis at Wade Hampton High School and youth league soccer. He was a past member of Mountain Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, First Baptist Church of Greenville, South Carolina and Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church of Savannah, Georgia, where he served in various leadership capacities.

A memorial service and committal will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Mackey Mortuary at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, South Carolina, 29609, where a reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church of Savannah, Georgia, at wesleymonumental.org or to Wesley Monumental UMC, 429 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401 (please reference Charles Holley memorial), or to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/sc .