Rev. Dr. Everett William Lee “Bill’ Holden, age 84, of Rome, GA, completed his Earthly mission and was ushered in to the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at his residence.
Dr. Holden was born in Rome, GA, on October 5, 1942, son of the late William Virgil Holden and the late Pauline Bowling Holden. He was also preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his children, Deloris Keith Holden, his second wife, Phyllis DeBerry Holden, a son, Jonathan Holden, 2 grandchildren, Amanda Grace “Gracie” Silver and Jamie Lee Silver, “Uncle Dad”, Everett F. Holden, and by 6 siblings, Elizabeth O’Berry, David Holden, Russell Holden, Chris Holden, Brenda Jordan, and Barbara McBee. Dr. Holden was a veteran of the United States Army where he completed his high school education. He received his bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministries from Christian Bible College and Seminary in Independence, MO, and received in PhD from Lee University. After his discharge from the military, he worked at Floyd Medical Center where he first supervised the maintenance department before being called to manage three separate departments. His received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1980 and began his long and illustrious ministry. Most recently, Dr. Holden was a faithful member of Pisgah Baptist Church where he served as the Assistant Sunday School Superintendent and led various discipleship classes.
When Dr. Holden received his Savior, he immediately began making an impact for the Kingdom. While still employed by Floyd Medical Center, he spent every spare moment he had in various churches filling various roles in the Rome/Trion districts ministering in whatever way he could. He attended night college courses in biblical studies at North Georgia Church of God State Headquarters in Doraville, GA, and Mt. Paran Church of God in Atlanta. Every decision Dr. Holden made was based on what God was calling him and his family to do. Dr. Holden and his wife sold everything and moved to Hawaii, knowing the need to spread the Gospel. This following of God’s will allowed him to be the first minister to ever preach on WPLO Radio. His faithfulness led to him being appointed as the Pastor of the Honolulu Church of God. Dr. Holden was appointed as a member of the Hawaii COG State Counsel, Board of Education (training ministers), and appointed to the State Publications Director and District Overseer of Maui. He supervised churches on three separate islands and served on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii State Food Bank.
Ever chasing God’s will, he was appointed as the Director of the Christian Serviceman’s Center in Okinawa, Japan, by the “Ministry to the Military Board.” Dr. Holden worked with military base chaplains, oversaw the renovation of the Serviceman’s Center facility all while pastoring five branches of the military for 18 months. He was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Okinawa Christian Academy and prepared ministers and their wives for licensure within the Church. Dr. Holden and his wife were called back home where he served as Pastor for the Pentecostal Worship Center in Summerville before being tasked with revitalizing the struggling East Rome Church of God. He served as pastor for 13 ½ years at East Rome and, in God’s perfect plan, the church grew and flourished under Dr. Holden’s leadership.
After the passing of his first wife, Dr. Holden spent time away from active ministry to pray and fast as to what God had planned for him next. In 2008 he was appointed the status of Missionary by the Tioquan mission Board in Cleveland, TN, and spent 8 weeks in the Philippines preaching and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In 2009 he joined a mission to Zambia, Africa where for 16 days he was in charge of a work crew tasked with building new roofs on 4 buildings that housed widows and orphans in Mufulira. It was here Dr. Holden preached the message of God to a crowd of over 600 people leading to the salvation of countless people through Jesus Christ.
Retirement was never an option and Dr. Holden went on various other missions around the United States and even back to Africa, all with the goal of spreading the Gospel and helping people find salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. His ministry took him all over the world, through various churches, jail, and places he never thought he would venture, but all with the same message, to bring Glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Dr. Holden stated many times that the Glory and Honor belong to HIM and HIM alone. Today, he has finished his race and is praising at the feet of Jesus for eternity.
Survivors include his two daughters, Dee Silver (Darrel), Cave Spring, and Tammie Rogers, Kingston; 5 grandchildren, Keith Caldwell (Jennifer), Amy Nichols, Lee Peace, Tana Rae McMillan (Chris), Jacob Rogers (Cassandra); 5 great-grandchildren, Travis Gambil, Zoe Peace, Izzy McMillan, Chloe Silvers, and James Colton “Bubba” McMillan; his “Aunt Mama”, Peggy Holden; 7 siblings, Frances Goswick (Travis), James Holden, Tommy Holden, Linda Holden, Paulette Edwards (Michael), Janet Catlett (Benny), and Jack Capps; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, with the Rev. Michael Roach and Dr. Jerry Dudley officiating. Interment will follow in Oaknoll Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 12pm until service time on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel.
Pallbearers are to assemble by 1:30pm on Tuesday at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, and include: Active, Jacob Rogers, Bubba McMillan, Chris McMillan, and Tom Payne; Honorary, Member of the Pisgah Baptist Church Men’s Sunday School Class.
Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, is honored to serve the family of Rev. Dr. Everett William Lee “Bill’ Holden.
