Richard Gordon Holt

Richard Gordon Holt, 77, son of the late John H. Holt and Annie B. Oldham Holt, departed this life on August 24, 2021. A native of Mebane, North Carolina, he spent much of his childhood on the family farm before the family moved to the West End Community.

He attended Graham High School, transferred and subsequently graduated from the new Central High School in 1962. While at Central he lettered in baseball.

After graduation, Richard served in the United States Army, worked as a military policeman and with the military secret service. He also trained as a sharpshooter and a paratrooper.

He graduated from Durham Business College with a diploma in Computer Programming in 1967 and furthered his education at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science (B.S) degree in Accounting in 1972.

After graduation, Richard worked as a Computer Systems Analyst at Burlington Industries (“BI”). While working at BI, he pursued his second passion, received his general contractor’s license, and started his own business, Emerywood Realty. Emerywood Realty’s mission is providing decent, affordable housing for all people, regardless of income.  Richard matched his passion with purpose and provided homes for dozens of families, many of whom, were Black first-time homebuyers.

Richard leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Janice Ingram Holt; one daughter,  Jamila C. Holt, one step-daughter, Dana Hensley, one step-son, Kevin Hensley;  two sisters, Evelyn Holt-Fuller and Anzlette Holt-Bradsher; one nephew, Eric D. Fuller; nieces D. Lynette Bradsher and Dawn C. Bradsher-Samad; great nieces and nephews; great-great nieces; cousins; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

AuthoraCare Collective

In Loving Memory of Richard Holt

914 Chapel Hill Rd.

Burlington, NC 27215

Services will be held at the homeplace on St. Luke’s Church Rd on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 12:30pm.

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