By Ralphine Major

The couple who met in Kentucky and married in Tennessee eventually made their way back to the Volunteer State.

For a brief time, the history professor continued teaching at Morehead State University in Kentucky.  During the transition, however, their church work did not suffer.  Dr. Tim Holder, who commuted on weekends, helped team-teach our Sunday School class.  Later, he worked for several years as a professor at Walters State Community College in Tennessee before becoming an assistant dean.  After teaching voice for eight years at Georgetown College in Kentucky, the music professor in 2003 joined the faculty at Carson-Newman University, her alma mater.  Dr. Angela Easterday Holder had earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Carson-Newman.

She earned a Master of Music in vocal performance from the University of Tennessee and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.  At Carson-Newman, Dr. Angela Holder chaired the music department.

The popular college instructor’s Christian witness reached another level as she directed Redemption, a contemporary Christian vocal ensemble that presented worship experiences for chapel programs and area churches.  I remember hearing them sing.

Angela’s talent was not restricted to her workplace on the Carson-Newman campus.  Her impact was far-reaching.

At Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, Angela lifted her amazing voice in song both in the choir and as a soloist.  She certainly knew how to deliver a song.  It was perfection!

We always enjoyed hearing her sing “Give Me Jesus.”  It was a joy to see her lead in worship on rare occasions when the minister of music was away.  It was also inspiring to hear her sweet, confident voice lead in prayer.  Perhaps, it was Angela’s level of success that made her other traits stand out even more.  Behind that beautiful voice was great humility, kindness, compassion, and an incredibly sweet spirit—traits that speak so highly of her and even higher of her parents.

“She made everyone feel important,” fellow choir member Mike Rader said of Angela.  His words were right on target.  (To be continued)