Burke Elmo Holland Jr.

Dr. Holland was born Feb. 14, 1932, in Cary, the fourth of eight children born to Burke Holland Sr. and Iva Ressler Holland. He was a 1949 graduate of Garner High School. He left his college studies at NC State College to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. Later, he would go to work with Western Electric Co. in Winston-Salem and then with the Raytheon Electronics Co. It was during his time with Raytheon that he felt a call into Christian ministry.

As a result of that call, Dr. Holland returned to Winston-Salem to attend and complete his undergraduate education at Wake Forest College and then his master’s degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest. Later, he would complete a doctoral program at Drew University in New Jersey.

During his college studies, Dr. Holland pastored the Rock Hill Mission, a Baptist church plant in Walkertown. When he moved on to seminary, he went to pastor Cedar Rock Baptist Church near Castalia. Upon completion of his seminary studies, Dr. Holland was called to pastor Old Town Baptist Church outside of Winston-Salem.

In 1977, Dr. Holland was asked to oversee chaplaincy and language missions for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina in Cary. During this time, he also helped found a chaplaincy program with the Cary Police Department.

Over the span of his life, Dr. Holland served 14 interim pastorates throughout North Carolina.

Dr. Holland was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Nancy Braswell Holland. He was also preceded in death by brothers Keith Holland, Warren Holland and Charles David Holland and by sisters Carol Pearson and Rebecca Taylor; and a grandson, William Holland.

He is survived by two sons and their spouses, Jeffrey and Tanya Holland of Clayton and David and Marjorie Holland of Beaufort, S.C.; sisters Ruth Cook of Columbus, OH, and Mary Bixler of Downingtown, PA; four grandchildren, Rachel Bates of Charleston, SC, Lauryn Stillwell of Zebulon, Christopher Holland of Clayton, and Benjamin Holland of Smithfield; three great-grandchildren, Ryan and Addisyn Stillwell of Zebulon, and Norris Bates of Charleston, S.C.; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A service celebrating his life will be held Friday, July 10, at 2:00pm at Westwood Baptist Church, Cary. The family will be present to greet those attending at 12:30pm. A reception will follow after the service.

While flowers are accepted, memorial contributions in Burke Holland's name may be made to the Building Fund at Westwood Baptist Church.

McLaurin Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.