Clyde James Holland, 92, of Ridgeway, Va. passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at his home. He was born in Bluff, North Carolina on August 7, 1933, the son of the late John Spencer Holland and Maggie Parker Holland.
He was a member of Horsepasture Christian Church where he served for a number of years as Trustee, Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 65 years, Shirley Bralley Holland, and his four siblings: Russell, Ranie Holland Vartenisian (George), Alva (Janet) and Kay Higgins (Gene).
Clyde was a member of the last graduating class from Spencer Penn High School in 1952, and while there was an all-star member of Spencer Penn’s Championship basketball team, where Clyde “Hook” Holland was named Henry County’s outstanding offensive player.
After graduation, Clyde served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict as a teletype operator with the 59th Signal Corps. On his first furlough, Clyde married Shirley, before being deployed to the Marshall Islands, where he participated in “Operation Redwings,” the Army’s Nuclear testing program.
While Clyde was a retired rural mail carrier from the U.S. Postal Service and also a retired carpenter from Anthony Brothers Construction, he never really retired from his third occupation, farming. Clyde loved his draft horses, Molly and Polly, but he had a special affection for Ford Tractors “because Ford Tractors got me out from behind the horses,” he was fond of saying.
Clyde had an incredible memory for names and faces and his affection for his many friends was genuine. Left to cherish his memories are
his son, Darryl (Lillian), daughter Vickie Collins (Odell) and youngest son, Larry Holland with whom Clyde shared his home. Clyde was also a wonderful “PAPA” to his grandson, Logan Collins (Kristin) and to his great grandson, Cooper Holland Collins. Four other honorary grandchildren who were equally loved were the Thompsons, Sadie, Hope, Jay and Ruth, who brought great joy and happiness to PAPA Clyde in his later years. And of course, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members who he loved and who will miss him dearly.
The family would like to extend its gratitude to caregivers Hannah Thompson and Shirley Belton, and to Mountain Valley Hospice for the attention to PAPA during these last tiring months, and to Dr. Ben Lewis for his professional counsel and support.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Horsepasture Christian Church, with the funeral being at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, also at Horsepasture Christian Church and will be officiated by Senior Minister Kyle Thompson. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Horsepasture Christian Church Missions, 1146 Horsepasture Price Road, Ridgeway, Va. 24148 for the J.S. Holland Scholarship at Johnson University.
McKee-Stone Funeral Home, Martinsville, Va. is serving the family. To express condolences online, please visit www.collinsmckeestonemartinsville.com
