Reverend Curtis P. Holland, Pastor
Glendale Baptist Church
Furnished by Clarence Crocker
A native of North Carolina, Reverend Holland was a typical tar-hill, hard-shell, fire brimstone, Baptist preacher. He was a big eater, preached hard and being a large man he perspired a lot while preaching. Instead of a small handkerchief, he carried a small hand towel over his arm with which he would wipe his brow and face. As a young man, Curtis married a young lady by the name of Cleo Hawkins, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Hawkins of Ellenboro, N. C. and made their home there for a while, before going to Tennessee.
Coming to Glendale in the 20s, he was elected as Pastor of the Glendale Baptist Church in 1928, serving some 3 years before resigning for personal reasons. Being a congenial, friendly person and with most everyone liking him and his family, he was recalled as Pastor in 1935, serving for another two years. Following his wife’s death, Rev. Holland returned to his home state.
The 1910 North Carolina, Haywood County Census shows that he had been married 4 years and was the father of one child.
The household was listed as; Curtis Holland 23, husband, fiber plant worker. Wife; Cleo 24
Son; Thomas 2.
The 1920 Tennessee, Carter County Census lists the household as; Curtis Holland 33, husband, Minister.
Wife; Cleo 34
Children; Thomas 12. *Ellen 8. Roy 6. Bessie 3.
(* - See More information elsewhere in this article.)
Two additional children were added to the family after this last census. Ruth and George Holland.
Excerpts from the Obituary of Mrs. Cleo Hawkins Holland published in the Spartanburg Herald, Monday April 8, 1935; “Mrs. Cleo Holland, 49, wife of the Reverend C. P. Holland, pastor of the Glendale Baptist Church, died at her home in Glendale at 8 o’clock Sunday morning after a lingering illness. She and Rev. Holland had made their home in Glendale for several years. Mrs. Holland took a very active part in the church work with her husband when her health permitted. She was well known and loved by many and her passing will be regretted by those who knew her.
Survivors are her husband, Rev. C. P. Holland and the following children; Miss Ruth Holland, George Holland, Mrs. J. C. Fowler and Mrs. John Bishop, all of Glendale and Thomas Holland of Erwin Tenn,; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Hawkins, Ellenboro, N.C., the following brothers and sisters, Mrs. R.H. Jolly, Caroleen, N.C., Mrs. W.D.O. Bryant, Greensboro, N.C., J.B. and Joe Hawkins, Avondale, N.C., and D.E. Hawkins, Caroleen, N. C.; also two grandchildren.”
Funeral services were held at the Glendale Baptist Church Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J.L. Vipperman, Pastor of Southside Baptist Church, Spartanburg, S. C.
The following served as flower bearers; Miss Edna Murray, Miss. Mary Cash, Mrs. Fay Crocker, Mrs. Emma Bell Allen, Miss. Ageline Adams and Miss Ada Corn. The following Deacons of the Glendale Baptist Church were asked to serve as pallbearers; C.A. Sams, A.E. Crocker, John Corn, John Cash, John Thompson, Albert Brown and J.H. Hunter. Interment followed in the Glendale Community Cemetery.
Grave marker; Cleo Holland, 1885=1935.
Ellen Holland was the only child to marry and remain in Glendale. Ellen Holland married John Frank Bishop and they became the parents of children; John Palmer, Albert Wyley and Roberta Bishop. John and Ellen made their home, died and were buried in Glendale.
Grave markers;
John F. Bishop-June 11, 1908=April 22, 1977
Ellen H. Bishop-July 28, 1911=December 16, 1986
Federal Census and Obituary, courtesy of Spartanburg County Library.
Clarence E. Crocker , June 2012
This web site has been started as a public service to share the story of Glendale. See more information about Mary and her Glendale connection at Mary McKinney Teaster.