Deborah Shivers Holloway

Deborah Elaine Shivers Holloway, born September 2, 1952, and raised in Asheville NC was called home to glory Wednesday, June 14, 2023, while being surrounded in the comfort and love of family.

Deborah is preceded in death by parents Charles Shivers, William Aiken and Emma Aiken. She is also preceded in death by two sisters Sheila Smith and Janet Aiken.

She is survived by her husband George Holloway, children Brigitte Borden (Derek) and George Holloway Jr. (Kisha) as well as 11 siblings. 

Deborah comes from a huge family on both sides. She is one of 13 siblings (including the two mentioned above) as well as: Hattie Shivers, Brenda Buie, Carol Hill, Dorothy Shivers, Sharon Shivers, Diana Robinson, Kathy Shivers, Alfonzo “Lee” McGee, Charles Shivers, Rick McGee, Curtis McGee and stepsister Dee Burris. Deborah is #5 from oldest to youngest and the fourth daughter. She has 7 grandchildren, Ryan (Karina), Destini, DJ, Jeorgie, Jolie, Erik, Trinanne and 10 great grands, Amarii, Jadyn, Jazlyn, LayLay, Jaylee, Kalani, Isaiah, Kaylen, Kendrick and Kimberly. 

Deborah was a beautiful soul inside and out. She was blessed to serve in many roles throughout her life, all of which she embraced naturally, gracefully and with an infectious smile. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandma, aunt, cousin and friend. Close family knew her by “Dell”, and all her grandkids knew her by “Granny”. Of all the titles she possessed, superwoman sums it up. There was nothing she couldn’t or wouldn’t do because she did it all! No matter what title she held, she always made sure her house was clean, you had a meal on the table and that her house felt like home.

Dell enjoyed life while she could, for as long as she could. Whether it was a sister's getaway, family gathering, church function or a vacation, she was always there and ready to help out wherever it was needed. She loved to cook, bake and crotchet. When she lived in Kenilworth, you could always catch a homemade pound cake in that glass cake container, or some type of meal being cooked on the stove. Granny was a great cook all around, but there was that one thing that was the favorite. It was what everybody loved, hoped she'd make for functions and was upset if we didn’t get any… YEP. HER BANANA PUDDING! It was so good that we created Family Expectation Dinners and she was “expected” to bring her banana pudding— otherwise dinner just wasn’t complete without it. Deborah was never above learning or trying new things. As she started finding hobbies, she really got into crotchet. For several Christmases and winters, we all received blankets, scarves and hats. If you had a little one on the way, they had booties upon their arrival. She loved watching TV shows such as: The bachelor, Maury, Family Feud, Lifetime movies and her infamous soaps. 

Speaking of soaps— 

(Rule #1: “Never call granny around 2 o clock.”) 

If you called, you may or may not get an answer. If you did get an answer, the conversation was slim because she didn’t like interruptions at that time. When she was in the hospital, she always would say that she hoped the rooms had cable so she could watch her soaps! She could watch reruns of a show or movie and always be surprised at what happens as if she had never seen it before! “Oouu wee, I hate to think" and "Well I’ll be”. She LOVED skittles and in the last months of her life she LOVED M&M’s. She was stingy when it came to her candies! LOL!

Dell was soft spoken, sweet, genuine, peaceful, joyful, loving, harmonious, caring and had a heart of gold. When you saw her, she was always smiling whether she was in pain or not, and was truly a pleasure to be around. A beautiful soul who will be missed. She was strong willed and she constantly aimed to be as independent as she could, until her last day here on earth. She took each day as it came and continuously showed up to fight this ongoing battle until God called her and told her the war was finally over. 

They say that grief is an expression of love. It’s the continued love for the person who died in combination with the mourners yearning to be in the presence of the loved one just one more time. While nothing could have prepared us for this tremendous loss, her beautiful spirit will forever be with us and she will never be forgotten. You earned your wings, Dell, and now when the sun shines, we know our angel is flying high healed, whole and happy!

A Funeral Service to honor the life of Mrs. Deborah Holloway will be held on Wednesday June 21, 2023, at Faith Tabernacle Christian Center (800 Appledoorn Circle), at 1pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will immediately follow the funeral at Sunset Cemetery. Viewing will be held on Tuesday June 20, 2023, from 1pm till 8pm at Faith Tabernacle Christian Center. The service will be live streamed on Avery's Memorial Chapel's Facebook page.

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