Haywood Dail Holderness, Jr.
December 28, 1939 - June 18, 2022
Raleigh , North Carolina - Haywood Holderness of Durham, NC passed away at the Rosewood Health Center in Raleigh. His heart belonged to his wife, his family, the city of Durham, and an old beach cabin named Casablanca.
Haywood was born December 28, 1939, to Dail and Nancy Holderness. He graduated from Woodberry Forest High School in 1958, earned his B.A. degree at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1962 and received his B.D. from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA in 1969. Between 1962 and 1965, Haywood served in the USA Army Communications Intelligence as a Spanish interpreter during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was stationed near Miami. In 1968, Haywood married Mary Thompson Dameron of Marion, NC and loved her until his death. He served as pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Mobile, Alabama from 1969 to 1973. Haywood was the Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Durham for 33 years starting in 1974, and an adjunct faculty member at Duke Divinity School for over 20 years starting in 1984. After retirement from Westminster, Haywood served as interim pastor of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church in Wake Forest and White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh.
Haywood was a founder of Urban Ministries of Durham. As a Board member of Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, Haywood created the Breaking Bread capital campaign that raised 6 million dollars, then opened Food Bank branches in Durham and Greenville.
He was the recipient of several awards and honors such as: Durham Herald Father of the Year, Governor's Special Volunteer Award, Durham Chamber or Commerce Leadership Award, Edna Spaulding Community Service Award, Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Award, Durham Habitat for Humanity Founders Award, Durham Congregations in Action Servant Award, NC Maritime Museum Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, Community Leadership Award in the field of Religion by the local Islamic Mosque Masjid Ar-Razzaq, Durham Rotary Club Outstanding Community Service of a Non-Rotarian, Durham NAACP Person of the Year, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. In 2019, Durham Congregations in Action established the Haywood Holderness Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service leadership in Durham.
Haywood was an avid fisherman, spending much of his spare time at Cape Lookout National Seashore with friends and family. He was a life-long North Carolina Tar Heel basketball fan, and a devoted husband. He had an infectious laugh that lit up any room, and an atrocious singing voice, which didn't keep him from belting out every hymn at the top of his lungs. He loved his church congregation like they were his family.
Survivors include his wife, Mary, his sons, Penn Holderness (Kim) and Dail Holderness (Laurie) his brother, Rusty Holderness his sisters, Nancy Reams and Zelle Jester, several nieces and nephews and his grandchildren, Lola, Ella, Penn Charles and Cade.
Haywood was preceded in death by his parents and brother, James Braswell Holderness.
A Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held 2:00 PM, Saturday June 25, 2022, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Durham. It can also be Live Streamed at wpcdurham.org by clicking on "Live Stream".
Memorial contributions can be made to any of the charities he served mentioned above.
The Holderness family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com; Select Obituaries

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Published by & on Jun. 22, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Haywood Holderness

Sponsored by Hall-Wynne Funeral Service & Crematory - Durham.

8 Entries

Darlene Willis

September 1, 2023

Mary,
So sorry to hear about Haywood. He was a great man and loved by so many people.
This is Darlene DeLong Willis. My family went to Grace many years ago.
Both you and Haywood have been fondly remembered by me over the years.

Cristina Brescia Michta

February 5, 2023

Dear Holderness family,

I am so sorry to express my sympathy so late, but I just found out about dear Haywood´s passing this minute!

Your family meant so much to us when we were Durham. You all just took us in as family when my sister was sick with cancer at Duke! I have so many memories of your precious Haywood! He was so much fun!
No doubt he is having fun in Heaven.

Please accept my heartfelt sympathy and prayers.

Godspeed,

Cristina Brescia Michta

Janet Southall Connell

September 11, 2022

I met Haywood In Mobile as a member of Grace Presbyterian Church. For some reason his name popped into my mind this afternoon. I googled the name and found he had transitioned to the beloved beyond. I recall him and Mary with much appreciation for the four years they spent in Mobile interacting with with me and my family. Blessings, Janet Southall Connell

Allison Phillips

July 3, 2022

My thoughts and prayers are with the Holderness family. Haywood and Mary were one of the first couples I met when I began working at the Cypress of Raleigh. Haywood was always so kind and generous, made sure to bring positivity to every conversation, and just knew how to make others smile in every conversation. I will miss him dearly. Sending my deepest condolences to Dail, Penn, Laurie, Kim, and Haywood's grandchildren who we know he adored.

Gerry Green

June 23, 2022

This righteous man led me, and many others, to the glories that are Christ. My deepest love and condolences to his family. Haywood embodied all that is right with the love, and the teaching, of our Savior!

Carol Lynn Van Hise

June 22, 2022

As Director of Westminster School, I welcomed Haywood to WPC as Pastor AND as father of two young sons. Haywood and Mary were supportive of the School program throughout their years at WPC. He was a true friend, a kind "sounding board", and an inspiration. It was truly a Blessing to work with him on the Church staff until his retirement. I´m most appreciative of his introducing me to our best friend, "MAC"!!!! He generously shared his time making sure all of our staff was well versed on AppleWorks and File Marker Pro!!!! We´ve ALL moved on to other computers and programs now; however, we have Haywood to thank for the original introduction to a new era of communicating and record keeping.
Haywood had such a BIG heart and anyone who knew him or even heard of him, knew of his passion for ministering to the needs of others. The long list of programs he organized, supported and encouraged others to support speaks volumes about Haywood´s ministry and mission in life.
I am so thankful to have had Haywood´s influence in my life.
Praying for God´s continued comfort for all his family.
Carol L. Van Hise

Ted and Moffett Churn

June 21, 2022

Prayers for the family. Haywood had a pastor´s heart.

Mary Todd Peters

June 21, 2022

Prayers to your family as you grieve the death of Haywood. He was an amazing pastor, one who recognized the importance of Christian education and supported his staff like no other pastor I know. I was privileged to serve with him on staff in 2000, and then along side him as an active member of WPC until he retired. He was gracious, encouraging, supportive and his ability to invite people to join in ministry--finding things for folks to do that matched their gifts was incredible. He was generous with his words of appreciation and affirmation. He led by example and was able to navigate differences with love and grace. His impact on the City of Durham will be felt for generations. Rest in peace HH!

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