Sunday, July 3, 2011

A Visit With Pam Holley

I had the pleasure of visiting with Pam Holley this week. Pam has a very positive outlook and she radiates this feeling to others, leaving you with the same joy that she exudes.



Pam was born in San Juan Puerto Rico. She has two sisters and a brother. Her father had a military career and the children were each born in different States or areas . She attended kindergarten and first grade in Germany. When they returned to the States on the SS Constitution, they were stationed in Michigan. When her father retired they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. She grew up in St. Petersburg and graduated from Dixie Hollins High School.

Her parents had grown up on a farm. Her great love and admiration for her mother is revealed as she talks of what a great cook she was, the artist in her and the wonderful gardener she was and her love for arranging flowers. She was a good seamstress and tailor, so she taught the girls how to sew. When Pam came to St. Thomas and learned about the flower guild she wanted to learn to arrange flowers like her mother,
So, she joined the Guild.

When I ask Pam who was her greatest mentor, without hesitation she answered, Barbara the Music director at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church. She had voice training in college, but working with Barbara was where she learned the most. Barbara had them practice after noon evenings and choir practice.

Pam had this God given talent of a beautiful voice and I am sure that Barbara was happy to have her as a student. We at St. Thomas have the pleasure of listening to her lovely voice each Sunday. St. Thomas is truly blest with talented choir members and a music director so well accomplished as Louise.

Pam started at St. Thomas by filling in on special occasions. She began with Lessons and Carols and Easter then Christmas Holidays until she finally became a full time member of the choir.

She was not happy with her place of work and she prayed and prayed for direction. Soon she was asked to come to St. Thomas to replace Hedi, who had left this position open. She says there is such a positive feeling and such complete honesty in her work now and this gives her a sense of joy, as she was taught honesty and integrity as she was growing up.

Her deep connection with her mother was revealed when after her mother had passed away, on the third day she was awakened by her mother, who was standing beside her bed and calling her. She said, “Pam, are you alright?” Pam said, “Yes, mother, I am”. Then her mother left. As she shared with me, this spiritual connection with her mother, I felt this was a very sweet communion.

Mother came to let her little girl know that all was well on the other side. She wanted to comfort her and to give her that peace that passeth all understanding.

This is a true example of the greatness of Love.

Love transcends all things. There is no wall that can bar it, hold it back. or fence it in. It transcends all time and all space.

Love, Hope and Charity, and the greatest of these is Love.

Submitted by: Mary Hochadel

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