Vara Campbell Purser - Holden

Vara C. Purser Holden, 83, of Abbeville, died peacefully Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at the Abbeville Nursing Home. She was born in Abbeville, SC to the late Graydon & Essie Childs Campbell. Mrs. Holden was twice married, first to the late Ernest R. Purser, Sr. and then to the late William Roger Holden. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Marinda J. Purser; three sisters, Lillian Blanchett, Ann Shirley and Sybil Sorrow; and a brother, Gordon Campbell. Mrs. Holden will be remembered for being a wonderful and dedicated mother, maw maws, sister, and friend. She was a kind, gentle woman with a great sense of humor. Mrs. Holden spent 52 years of her life lovingly taking care of her beloved daughter, the late Marinda Purser. She was a member of South Side Baptist Church and the Dorcas Sunday School class. Surviving Mrs. Holden is her daughter, Patti Gary of Abbeville; a son, Ernest R. Purser, Jr., and his wife Kathy of Calhoun Falls; two brothers, Bennett Campbell of Abbeville and Sonny Campbell of Lyman, SC; three sisters, Alliene O'Shields, formally of Abbeville, now living in Virginia, Eva Ruth Griffin of Waldo, FL and Jackie Williams of Greenwood; three grandchildren, Valerie Johnson Aiken, Ernest R. Purser, III and his wife Pamela and Jean Alewine and her husband Tony; and four great-grandchildren, Johnathon Schuler, Kris Alewine, Zach Alewine and George Alewine. The family will receive friends from 3:00PM to 4:00PM Friday, November 5, 2010 at Harris Funeral Home. Graveside services will begin at 4:30PM on Friday in Long Cane Cemetery with the Rev. Earl Hartley officiating. Memorial contributions, in memory of Mrs. Holden, may be sent to South Side Baptist Church, 505 W. Greenwood St., Abbeville, SC 29620. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com. HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE of Abbeville is assisting the Purser Holden family.