Carrie Mae (Milam) Holden

A Memorial Service for Mrs. Carrie M. Holden 79, of Decatur, AL will be noon Tuesday June 3, 2025, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with Brother Travis Chambers officiating. There will be no public viewing.

January 25, 1946 - May 26, 2025

Carrie Mae Milam Holden passed peacefully on May 26, 2025, at her residence in Decatur, Alabama. A loving and devoted Jehovah's Witness, she was born January 25, 1946, in Decatur, Alabama to the late Edgar Milam and Lizzie Mae Moore Milam. She was reared by Bishop and Amy Miller and  was educated in Decatur City Schools attending Cherry Street Elementary and Lakeside High .  

Carrie married the love of her life, William Thomas Holden, on November 7, 1963, and together they had six children. A stay-at-home wife, she was the matriarch and foundation of her family. For sixty-two years, she and William Thomas built a life centered around love, loyalty, and of course her culinary skills. She loved cooking for family and friends and became legendary for her barbecue chicken, white sauce, and coleslaw, which led her to open a restaurant, Holden's BBQ. She enjoyed fishing and had a passion for growing plants. One of her favorite pastimes was frequenting yard sales. 

She often shared the promise of comforting hope, Revelations 21:4. Mrs. Holden was baptized into Jehovah's Witness, January 3, 1984. Even though she encountered health issues, her faith and service to Jehovah never wavered. She continued to set a fine example of faith until her death and remained courageous while speaking with others about the Bible's promise of a time when suffering and tears of sorrow will be gone from the earth forever. She is now safe in Jehovah's memory and awaiting his promised resurrection.

Preceding her in death were her parents; a loving mother and father-in-law, Willie and Mary Holden Harris; three daughters, Mary Nell, Martha Holden and Carolyn Holden Jackson; two grandsons, Carlos Holden and Roger Jones, Jr; two sisters, Alma Louis Scott and Estelle Mose; one brother Bishop Miller and two sons-in-law, James Allen and Charles Jackson.

She is survived by: her loving and cherished husband, William Thomas Holden; children, a devoted and dedicated daughter, Linda Holden Allen, William (Aretha Smith) Holden, and Kasandra Holden; a loving and devoted sister, Lois (Jimmie) Brown; and brother-in-law, Wilmer Mose all of Decatur, Alabama. Carrie Mae treasured her 11 grandchildren and held a very special bond with them; Charlandria and Kendrick Jackson, special granddaughter and caregiver, Tinisha Allen, LaMarcus Allen and Tony Garrett, all of Decatur, Alabama, Lakresha (Tray) Cosby of Tanner, Alabama, Azaria (Mose) Coleman of Clement, Alabama, Casey (Kalyn) Holden and Royrecus Madden, Town Creek, Alabama, Martice Garrett, Atlanta, Georgia, and Brandon Miller, of Athens, Alabama; 27 great grandchildren, a host of loving aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; a cherished friend (sister), Annie Cooper; special cousin, Patrica Goins, and friend of the family, Lauro Ann Smith (daughter).

She will forever be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. We will dearly miss her love, laughter and zest for life.

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