Phoebe Elizabeth Holshouser McGinnis was born in Salisbury, NC on June the 5th 1926 to Arthur Holshouser (deceased) and Blanche Fisher Holshouser (deceased). She was the youngest of three girls. She attended Salisbury public schools, graduating from Boyden High School in 1943 with perfect attendance—never missed a day of school. Her nickname in high school was Duck because she was so short. In her senior annual, the caption under her name said, “Duck enjoys a joke; yet she knows how to be serious.” In the summer of 1942, at the age of 16; she met a young sailor—also just 16 years old outside of a USO Club in Salisbury, NC. The young sailor was on his way to Norfolk, VA to complete his Navy training in preparation for one of the first naval invasions of North Africa in November 1942. The young sailor was so smitten with Phoebe that he delayed his travel several days to spend more time with her. At the end of this time, they exchanged addresses and promised to write. After years of separation, Phoebe married that young sailor, Gene McGinnis—her sweetheart and the love of her life—on Christmas Eve 1945. They were married for 71 years.
After high school, Phoebe went to one year of business training and worked as a bookkeeper and secretary in accounting and legal offices. Her last full-time job was as the financial controller of a 200-bed skilled nursing facility in Charlotte, NC. In her local church, she taught Sunday school, worked in Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir, played piano and served as the church financial secretary. She served at Northside Baptist Church for five years as a part-time bookkeeper and secretary.
Phoebe grew up in church and learned the importance of a spiritual life but never really heard the Gospel until 1977, when they were talking to the pastor of a fundamental independent Baptist church about joining the church. The pastor asked about her salvation testimony. He presented the Gospel and she accepted Christ as her Savior. Her life had always been centered on helping and serving others, and her new prayer life added a new dimension to her caring and serving.
Phoebe was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one sister. She is survived by her son: David (Linda) McGinnis of Hanahan, SC; grandsons: Michael (Emily) McGinnis of Goose Creek, SC; and Steven (Melody) McGinnis of North Charleston, SC; and great-grandchildren: Adeline, Ian and Elliot McGinnis of Goose Creek, SC and Peyton, Delaney and Macey McGinnis of North Charleston, SC.
A visitation will be held from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at Carolina Memorial Park, Funerals & Cremation located at 7113 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406. 843-797-2222. Phoebe’s Celebration of Life will follow immediately in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be at Carolina Memorial Park.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be viewed and shared at www.carolinamemorial.com
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