Linda Bass Holaday

Linda grew up in Wilson and attended Fike High School. As a child, she sang in a children's trio at First Freewill Baptist Church, beginning a lifelong love of music that would remain an important part of her life for the five decades. She went on to attend East Carolina University in Greenville, where she was a straight-A student and graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. She joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, now known as Cru, where she met her future husband, Dave. They married in 1977 and served together in the music ministry until 1983, when Linda stepped away from performing with the band to focus on being a mom.

Linda loved children throughout her life. As a young woman she poured her love and attention into the children of her friends, then gave that same love and devotion to her own children, Meredith and Blake, and later to her grandchildren. It was extremely important to her that her children come to know Christ as their Savior and walk with Him. Yet she understood that their decision to follow Christ was ultimately beyond her control. What she could do, and what she faithfully did, was demonstrate through her own life what it meant to walk with Jesus, offering a word of guidance now and then.

Those who knew Linda remember her as gracious, patient, and wise, with a servant's heart. At Northview Church in Carmel, Indiana, she volunteered on committees that organized community service events, sang in the choir and on smaller worship teams, and worked part time in the coffee shop because she wanted everyone who came through the doors to feel welcome. When she and Dave moved to Bentonville, Arkansas in 2022 to be closer to family, they became active at Fellowship Bentonville and participated in several small groups.

Hospitality was one of Linda’s gifts. She loved opening her home to others, especially small church groups. Through her creativity and attention to detail, she had a way of making even ordinary gatherings feel special. She loved to cook and bake, and making Christmas cookies with her children and grandchildren became a cherished family tradition. She also created "Camp Holaday," an annual summer event when her grandchildren would come over for crafts, activities, and sleepovers. She contributed to several family recipe books, which her family now treasures more than ever.

The beach was Linda’s favorite place. Her family visited the beach every year when she was growing up, and she and Dave continued that tradition throughout their marriage. Some of her happiest moments were spent sitting beneath an umbrella and talking with her grown children while watching her grandchildren play in the water.

In recent years, Linda especially enjoyed having family over, whatever the occasion, and attending her grandchildren’s’ sporting events and other activities whenever she could. She also loved trying new restaurants, traveling, and enjoying a good murder mystery.

Above all, Linda's life was grounded in her devotion to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She read the Bible daily and listened to inspirational messages. She had an unwavering faith that she belonged to God and could trust Him in all circumstances. She was confident in the promise of Heaven through her faith in Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for her sins. More than anything, she would want to be remembered for using the gifts God gave her to love and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ.

Linda is survived by her husband, Dave Holaday; her daughter, Meredith Mahoney, and son-in-law, Mike Mahoney; her son, Blake Holaday, and daughter-in-law, LeeAnn Baird Holaday; her grandchildren, Baird, Parker, and Mackenzie Holaday; and her brother, Jimmy Bass, and his wife, Kathy, who was like a sister to her.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026, in the Great Room upstairs in the administration building at Fellowship Bentonville, located at 1611 McCollum Dr., Bentonville, AR 72712.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to consider making a donation to Samaritan Community Center, 2910 S. 8th St., Rogers, AR (samcc.org). Samaritan Community Center serves the hurting and hungry in Northwest Arkansas with dignity and compassion, a mission Linda cared about deeply; links below.