Mary "Billie" Imogene Singley Holley

Mary “Billie” Imogene Singley Holley went home to be with Jesus Christ Saturday, February 8, 2025, at age 96. She was surrounded by family and close friends as she slipped peacefully away after a short injury related illness.

 Mary was the second of five children born to the late Hudie Lee Singley and the late Mary Martha Quick Singley on September 18, 1928, in Screven County. Soon after her birth, the family moved to Shadrack Street in Waynesboro. 

 A graduate of Waynesboro High School, Mary excelled in home economics. On many occasions she was asked to teach younger students the art of sewing. Mary was part of the youth group at Waynesboro Baptist Church under the leadership of the new youth minister Reverend Robert C. Daniel. Mary was a lifelong follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 Mary married the late Ernest Ray Holley on July 4, 1945, and they moved to 1733 Walker Street in Augusta. They attended Crawford Avenue Baptist Church, where Reverend Daniel had recently become the senior minister. She worked in the church nursery. Mary worked the night shift as a loom operator at Sibley Mill.

 An avid gardener, her yard on Ruby Drive has been the showcase of that community for over 50 years. She experimented with and expertly grew beautiful flowers. Her lawn and flowers remain a statement to her tenacity.

 Early on, Mary was an active member of the Augusta Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and for nearly twenty years was the chaplain of the W.H.T. Walker Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. 

 When Mary passed, she was both a founder and the senior member of Open Door Baptist Church. While there she developed many lifelong friends, but, the family wishes to name one in particular, Leah Lamb. Leah has been a loving and devoted friend to Mary for years. The family will be eternally grateful to Leah for her love and friendship. 

 Mary worked thirty years at the Kendall Company in South Augusta where she was recognized many times as outstanding employee. 

Those left to cherish her memories include her three children, Peggy Ann Holley Salter (Buck), Jerry Clyde Holley and Thomas Earl Holley (Karen); eight grandchildren, Lisa Mirt (Kelly), Kristie Harrison, Kim Bennett (Mark), Heather Hamby (George), Hope Payne (Jason), Hayes Willet (Rob), Mary Beth Lake (Drew) and Blakely T. Holley (Nastia); sixteen (16) great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; sister, Eula Lee “Dinky” Slaton; daughter-in-law Becky Hanchey; nieces, nephews, other extended family and church family. Honored to serve as pallbearers include Carter Anderson, Mark Bennett, Brice Harrison, Kelly Mirt, William Shirey and Brandon Stewart. 

 Mary was also preceded in death by her son Douglas Ray Holley; and siblings, Wilbur Otho Singley, Elizabeth Caldwell and Opal Morris. 

 The family will greet family and friends from 12:30 – 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at James Funeral Home after which funeral services will be held in their chapel at 2:00P.M. A private interment will follow in the Mt. Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery. 

 Mary was kind hearted and compassionate. Her legacy of love to her friends and her stead-fast commitment to the Lord will long be remembered.