Iola (Galloway) Holt

Mrs. Iola Galloway Holt was born October 12, 1927, in Leaksville (Eden), North Carolina. She was the 11th child of the late Dillard and Emma Jane Galloway. She went home to be with the Lord on September 21, 2025, at the age of 97.

Iola attended Douglass School. She worked for the Eden City School system, now known as Rockingham County Schools. She retired after 48 years in the cafeteria but continued volunteering for an additional 10 years at Douglass. Growing up and into her adult life, she was a member of Little Bethlehem Christian Church in Piney Fork. She later joined Sunny Home Baptist Church and was a faithful member until her health declined.

Iola always took care of her family near and far. Whenever needed, day or night, she would always be there. Her gift was cooking, and she was great at it. She was especially known for her fried apples, peach cobblers, pinto beans, and great cakes. Her daughter, Fran, always said, “My mom will live forever to cook for her,” and she did, until she couldn’t anymore. Her nephew Tony loved her Kool-Aid because it was as sweet as sugar.

Iola always looked forward to seeing Mozella (Mo), her great-niece Earlene, and Cathy (Bud), who would call her and come by to check on her daily while she was still living at home.

In June 2022, she moved to Winston-Salem, NC, to reside at Brookridge Nursing Facility. Iola never complained about being there. She met two special ladies who also lived there, Mrs. Janet Stevenson and the late Mrs. Nancy Smith. Playing bingo was her thing to do twice a week, along with arts and crafts and taking trips. Iola lived a long, blessed life, and we will always carry her memories in our hearts.

In addition to her mother and father, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Holt; daughter, Michelle Holt; sisters, Annie Lou Taylor, Ivey Dell Gunn, Florence Wilson, and Elnora Jarrett; brothers, Sherwood Galloway, George Galloway, Dillard C. Galloway, Robert H. Galloway, and Willard Galloway.

Iola leaves to cherish her memories: children, Vonzella Holt-Brown (Walter Brown, Jr.) of Burtonsville, MD; Franchester Holt of Winston Salem, NC; grandchildren, Jessica Rigby (Thelston) of Fredrick, MD; Walter Brown, III of Burtonsville, MD; DeShawn Hamilton (Nina) of Kernersville, NC and Justin Hamilton(Renee) of Wake Forest, NC; great-grandchildren, Priya Imani Rigby, Jordan Kingston Hamilton and Amir Joshua Rigby; sister-in-law, Nancy Rivens of New York, NY and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A Celebration of Life service is scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025, at the Sunny Home Missionary Baptist Church, 11178 NC Hwy 770, Eden, NC. The family will receive visitors and friends at the church from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 1:00 p.m. A burial will follow at Eden Garden Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Iola (Galloway) Holt, please visit our floral store.