Wilma R. Holcomb

ELKIN - Wilma (Billie) R. Holcomb went to her heavenly reward Thursday, April 17, 2008, following an extended illness. Her life on earth was a shining example of what a difference one person can make. Born Nov. 22, 1921, she grew up in the Laurel Springs community of Alleghany County, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, learning life's lessons from her parents, Robert Avery and Nellie Miller Waddell. Avery was a community leader and a well-known cattle farmer. Nellie was a schoolteacher, her first years spent in one-room school houses. Following her graduation from high school in 1937, she became a beautician in Sparta, but love and war soon changed things. A "double date" introduced her to her future husband, Jasper "Jack" M. Holcomb of Elkin and the outbreak of World War II found her uprooted to Washington, D.C., to work as a "De-coder" at "Arlington Hill." While on leave from his Navy C.B. duty, Jack and Billie married March 1, 1945, this marriage lasting almost 63 years, as Jack passed over Feb. 15, 2008. Post-war found them back in Elkin to start and raise their family, where they joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary, which would change their lives forever. Billie found herself serving in several offices, chairmanships and even some on the national level, but she is best known for serving as the N.C. State Secretary and Treasurer for 41 years straight. Her hard work "for the good of the organization," putting aside any personal gains was noted by all. She worked hard while striving to keep up with her two growing children, who survive her, a daughter, Chloe Ann, and a son, A. Waddell Holcomb. Her other personal accomplishments are too many to mention, but those who knew her were blessed in the knowing. Her body finally worn down from multiple health issues, but her spirit fought on and will live on forever in Heaven with Jack. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Curt Ratledge of Atlanta. In addition to her children, she is survived by special friends, Dorothy T. Hunter and Sylvia W. Crouch and families, as well as a very large Ladies Auxiliary family from Wm. J. Jones Post 7794 and across the state. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the charity of choice or the Erline Mayberry School Fund. Special thanks to the staff and doctors of H.C.M. Hospital & Nursing Center and Mountain Valley Hospice and Dr. Bill Johnson and Rebecca H. Maynard of First Baptist Church of Elkin. The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20, 2008, at Johnson Funeral Home Chapel in Elkin by the Rev. Dr. Bill Johnson. A graveside service will follow in Hollywood Cemetery in Elkin. The family will receive friends at the First Baptist Church in Elkin after the graveside service. Johnson Funeral Home of Elkin is in charge of arrangements (336) 835-3211.