Eric Ara Holder, pastor of Grace Baptist Church and ‘gentle giant' to community, dies
Born in Washington, D.C., he was the son of O'dell T. Holder Sr., a federal worker, and his wife, Dorothy Bell Holder, a nurse. He was a graduate of Parkdale High School, where he played basketball, football, and baseball. His classmates called him 'Varsity.'
He entered the University of Maryland College Park on a football scholarship and was a wide receiver. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity's Epsilon Psi Chapter.
He joined the District of Columbia's Pretrial Services Agency and retired as program director for supervision services. He was also a coordinator for the Pop Warner Football League and coached the Woodlawn Falcons and the Northwest Bulldogs.
In 1985, he met his future wife, Toni Downey on the campus of the University of Maryland. They married Dec. 24, 1992.
'Eric liked to laugh and everybody was his family,' his wife said.
He joined the Garden of Prayer Baptist Church in Baltimore's Homestead neighborhood in 1991. He preached his first sermon in 2004. He attended the Washington Bible College and entered the ministry in 2007. He was schooled by the Rev. Melvin B. Tuggle II, a well-known Northeast Baltimore pastor.
In November 2009, he was elected as the pastor of Grace Baptist Church on the Alameda in Northeast Baltimore. As a pastor, he established an annual prayer vigil at Stadium Way to pray for the sons and daughters of the area who had been killed by violence. He also led prayer walks through the Coldstream Homestead Montebello neighborhoods in East Baltimore.
'His commitment to community outreach resulted in food and clothing giveaways, partnerships with nonprofit organizations, and a thriving annual Community Day,' said Troy Buckson, chair of the church deacon board.
'Pastor was a leader who served with humility, patience and compassion,' Mr. Buckson said. 'He loved unconditionally, led with wisdom, and worked tirelessly to uplift others. He always put people before himself.'
'Eric was a gentle giant. He was caring and he always looked you in the face and smiled,' said Mr. Buckson.
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Friends recalled that the Rev. Holder would pay rent or buy groceries for those who needed help.
'He loved life and was always good for a laugh,' his wife said. 'He could be caught singing the incorrect lyrics to a song, and when called on it, he would sing his version of the song louder. You knew you were in the family when he said, 'We have to find a nickname for you.''
Survivors include his wife, Toni L. Holder, a minister and life coach; two sons, Jalen Holder, of Orlando, Florida, and Emmanuel Holder, of Woodlawn; a daughter, Ryan Holder, of Baltimore; a brother, O'dell T. Holder Jr., of Philadelphia; two sisters, Sherease Doublin, of Clinton, and Lisa Thompson, of Charles County; and three grandchildren. A daughter, Taylor Holder, died in 1991.
Services were held Friday at Huber Community Church.
Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at jacques.kelly@baltsun.com and 410-332-6570.
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