Mary Martha Holder

Mary Martha (David) Holder, formerly from Mart, passed away at Katy, TX. on Saturday, December 25, 2021, at age 85.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 3, 2022 at Kirk Cemetery.

Mary Martha was born on May 17, 1936. She was the last of four siblings born to Mozelle Jarrard David and Guy Pleasant David. Her childhood was spent in the country near Mart and later in the town of Mart where she graduated from Mart High School.

After graduation she worked at First National Bank in her hometown while her high school sweetheart Jackie Bennett Holder was attending Texas A&M University. They married in June 1958 at First Baptist Church in Mart.

Jack’s career with the John Deere Company led them to many moves during the early years of their marriage; but the two incredible highlights of those years were when they became parents, first to Jana Leigh and then to Jeffrey Bennett. Eventually through promotions Jack’s career path led them to the Dallas John Deere Center; so they lived in Dallas until his retirement.

Mary Martha was a valued member of the staff of Mary Boswell School for many years. Her final work years were spent as an Office Assistant for a team of physicians. At the time of Jack’s retirement they returned to their roots and built a house in Mart where they remained until Jack’s passing in 2019. It was a welcoming home for many wonderful family gatherings. In 2020, Mary Martha moved to Katy to be near her daughter Jana.

The facts of Mary Martha’s life only begin to tell what an amazing person she was. She was the ultimate family holiday hostess, party-giver, good friend, church goer and church planter, loving mother and grandmother, understanding encourager, and family humorist! She and Jack were perfectly paired, mainly because of their shared giftedness and values: unlimited generosity, intense love for family, friendships with young and old, willing-ness to put others first, and foundationally their love of the Lord. Perhaps it sounds cliché, but the adage “To know them was to love them” aptly describes Mary Martha and Jack Holder. Therefore it is not surprising that they made and kept life-long friends from every stop in their lives’ journeys from childhood until their passing.

Mary Martha was well-known for her remarkable sense of humor. Any conversation with her would have you, at some point, smiling or laughing out loud. She will also be remembered for her extraordinary musical ability in playing the piano. This was a life-long gift that she willingly shared with others, whether it was by playing one of many beloved hymns or playing a tune while singing along with clever lyrics. It was such a blessing that in her final years as her thoughts were leaving her, the ability to play all over the keyboard never left her.

There are so many left behind with sweet memories of Mary Martha, friends and family alike, including her daughter and son-in-law Jana and Bob Kincaid (grandchildren Courtney, Christopher and wife Kelley and great-grandson Caleb), son and daughter-in-law Jeff and Debra Holder (grandchildren Anna and Claire and her husband Josch Motley) along with many much-loved nieces and nephews.

How we will miss the joy of the earthly presence of Mary Martha! But we know that we are only saying, “Good-bye for now.”

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a generous gift to the First Baptist Church of Mart, 601 E. Texas Avenue, Mart, TX 76664 in honor of Mary Martha.