Karen E. Holt

I´m just learning of this. Karen was an inspiration when we were law students together. Her college degree, interests and passion separated her from the crowd there. A year behind, I wanted to be like her. She even introduced me - true story - to Secretariat, at his farm in Lexington. Rest In Peace, and in power, and comfort to your family, friend.

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

To Karen's Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you as I just heard of Karen's passing. I was a neighborhood friend and our dogs shared many playdates together while Karen and I sat on the front porch and chatted over a gimlet:) I enjoyed getting to know Karen and ran into her often around town at various music/cultural events. Karen always exuded a calm warmth and it was such a pleasure to know her. She will truly be missed. I do hope Honeybee is in a good home--I know how much she loved her! My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Sincerely,
Hannah Blair

Karen..a classmate at Centennial High School. Intelligent, loving, caring, and a joy to have known.

To the Family of Karen Holt

Karen was a beautiful woman who touched many, many lives!!!

You do not know me, but I had the pleasure of working with Karen during her years at the University of Virginia from 1997-2003. I was Assistant Dean and Director of the Peer Advisor Program in the Office of African-American Affairs when she and I met. I can still see her smiling face and feel the passion and commitment she brought to her work. It was evident in the policies she revised and/or developed, the meetings and workshops she conducted, the people she counseled, and the many other things she did in fulfilling and going beyond the call of duty. I will not forget the enthusiastic “YES” Karen always gave to my numerous requests. She attended practically every program I conducted. Despite her busy schedule, I could count on her presence and that warm smile of support. Karen even conducted numerous workshops for my Peer Advisors (upperclassmen who worked with first-year students to ease college transitions). They were captivated by her knowledge and her personality, always rating her highly for what she gave them.

In reading the obituary appearing in Charlottesville’s newspaper The Daily Progress, I was flooded by these and other memories of Karen. In fact in one of my last conversations before she left the University of Virginia, I told her how much I enjoyed our work together. I knew UVA and I both would miss her dearly, but she was moving on to even better, brighter, and more exciting ventures in her career.

During this difficult time, I hope you will allow your memories of Karen to comfort you and to sustain you as they have me. Yes, Karen E.Holt was a very special and beautiful woman who made soooooooooo many differences. I am blessed to be among those whose life she touched.

Sincerely, Sylvia V. Terry
Charlottesville, Virginia

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

From junior high on thru Centennial, I enjoyed starting most morning with a friendly greeting from Karen. With our last names beginning with "H" & "I",our lockers were frequently close. Becoming friends with Karen was one of the few times having a last name hard to spell & pronounce was a good thing! God bless you, Karen!!

To all who knew and loved Karen, my sympathies in this difficult time. So sudden and so young to be taken. I wish I could be there for the memorial, but know that I will be thinking of you and Karen.

Love, April Dean Getchius

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Dearest Karen,
I mourn today for this news of your passing. Our brief work together for equal opportunities and diversity at the University of Virginia taught me so much about how to be a powerful woman with great vision making her way through the ever present challenges of a modern world with conservative ideals. Thank you.
From you I learned how to step out and step up to all that I can be. Your constant support of all that we were up to and your faith in your own convictions and beliefs in what was possible created a space of joy and optimism. Your trememdous integrity have long been missing here and now will long be missed by all that came into your space. Only we are here to carry on your mission in creating open doors and opportunities for others as we move into the future.
Bless you for all that you were and in our living, continue to be.
With great love, admiration, affection and respect,
Gweneth