Barbara Jean (Van Dyke) Holland

Mrs. Barbara Jean Holland, 74, of New Church, VA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at her home with her family by her side. Born October 20, 1947 in Butte, MT, she was the daughter of the late H.Q. “Van” Van Dyke and Betty Irene Wolf Van Dyke.

When Barbara was 6 years old the Van Dyke’s moved to the tiny islands of Wake and Canton, located in the Pacific Ocean, returning to the continental U.S., in Tallahassee, FL, in 1961. The following year, they relocated to Pocomoke City, MD when her father was selected to develop the satellite weather forecasting program for NOAA. From a young age, Barbara was inherently curious and clever. She preferred hands-on learning, often disassembling and reassembling small appliances and gadgets just to see how they worked. Much like her father, she loved reading and research and was always the first to answer any question. Barbara’s intelligence paired perfectly with her sense of propriety, stunning red hair, and natural beauty, all of which she shared with her mother.

Barbara graduated from Pocomoke High School, class of 1965. On November 26, 1967, following a brief courtship, she married the man she would spend the rest of her days with, James Franklin Holland. Together, along with their faith in the Lord and a lot of hard work, she and Jimmy built a beautiful life. Never one to be idle, Barbara stayed busy through her role as a mother, as the accountant for F.A. Holland & Sons, Inc. and assisting Jimmy with day-to-day operations of the family farm, was a devoted member and elder of Beaver Dam Christian Church, and a 45-year volunteer with the Helping Hands ministry. Horses, specifically appaloosas, became an everyday part of the Hollands’ lives when their daughter began riding, a hobby that turned into exhibiting horses at the national level. In the mid 90’s, Barbara and Jimmy began breeding their young, spotted appaloosa, and a world champion was born. In October of 2001, Barbara and Lady’s Country Zippo, hailing from the Holland Farm in New Church, VA, took the title at the World Championship Appaloosa Show in Fort Worth, TX. She was most proud to share her affinity for riding and competition with her granddaughter, Kailyn. After years of riding alongside her grandmother and traveling to countless horse shows, Kailyn continued Barbara’s championship legacy and assumed the caretaking responsibilities of the Holland Farm spotted fillies. Over the last several years, Barbara’s health prevented her from riding, but it never slowed her down. She has enjoyed shepherding her grandchildren, spent some time crafting, and made sure those important to her knew it.

Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, James Franklin “Jimmy” Holland; their children, Danna Czesak and her husband, Mark, of Wilmington, NC and Richard Holland and his wife, Anna Marie, of Stockton, MD; sisters, Janet Huffman of Mancos, CO, Cathy Van Dyke of Park City, UT, and Terry Van Dyke of Asheville, NC; grandchildren, Keegan, Cayman and Kai Czesak and Kailyn and Riley Holland; and several nieces and nephews and their families.

A memorial service to celebrate Barbara’s life will be held at the Beaver Dam Christian Church, 345 Makemie Road, Pocomoke City, MD, on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., with The Reverend Lance Ness officiating. Private interment was held at the Pitts Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Barbara’s memory may be made to the Beaver Dam Christian Church, c/o Jane Banks, 2015 Colonna Road, Pocomoke City, MD 21851, or you may honor her life, in saving others, by giving the gift of blood donation.

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements by the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home.

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