Claudette Pinner Holliday

Claudette Pinner Holliday, age 79, of Lexington, South Carolina died April 14, 2025 at her home after a lengthy illness. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, April 21, 2025 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1430 North Lake Dr, Lexington, SC 29072, with the Pastor Karen Young officiating.

Ms. Holliday was the oldest of three children of the late Thomas Arthur and Pauline (Corley) Pinner of Columbia. She was born February 1, 1946, in Oakland, California, and grew up in Columbia, SC attending Dreher High School, the University of South Carolina where she earned a BA degree in Journalism, and Midlands Technical College where she received a legal studies certificate.

After leaving Columbia in 1964, Ms. Holliday lived in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Laurel, Maryland and Cranham, England before returning to Lexington, the home of her grandparents, Archie Baylis and Minnie (Rister) Corley of the Midway Community. During her career, Ms. Holliday was the director of public relations with the American Lung Association of South Carolina, a legislative aide for State Senator Joe Wilson, and a paralegal for the State Attorney General’s Office and the Lexington Department of Social Services. Ms. Holliday retired in 2007.

In addition to a full-time career, Ms. Holliday wrote a local history column, “Lexington Yesterday” for the Lexington Chronicle and wrote for the Dispatch News since 1996. She has written two books about Lexington’s history, “A Pictorial History of Lexington County” and “Remembering Lexington.” Ms. Holliday served as president of the Lexington Genealogical Association for many years and was a member and supporter of many historical and museum societies. She was also a partner of the Harvest Church of Lexington.

Ms. Holliday is survived by her four children, Priscilla Michele Holliday, Henry “Hank” Holliday, III (Tiffany), David Wade Holliday, and William Baylis Holliday (Natasha); grandchildren, Kennedy Holliday and Hans Holliday; sister, Susan West; brother, Thomas A.F. Pinner (Helene); nieces, Lyra, River, and Phoebe Pinner; and nephews, John West and Boone Pinner.

Claudette was married to Henry (Buster) Holliday of Horry County for thirteen years. Claudette’s grandfather, Archie Corley, was a founding member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church and donated the church bells after WWI from funds he saved during the war where he served in France.

Memorials may be made to Friends of the Lexington County Museum, PO Box 637, Lexington, SC 29071(http://lexingtoncountymuseum.org/get-involved/); Lutheran Hospice, 102 Fortress Drive, Chapin, SC 29036 (https://www.lutheranhospice.org/donate); and Pilgrim Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, 1430 North Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072 (https://wearepilgrim.net/offerings).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be made at www.caughmanlexington.com