Family Obituary:

GEORGE PHILIP HOLT, SR.

Uncle Philip we've never been cold here in your shadow cause we've had your sunlight on our faces... but you weren't content to shine... you wouldn't dare leave us behind, So ...... we've had a part in all of your glories, now we share a part of your strengths. Your beautiful face... for so long. The beautiful smile that hid your pain. It might of appeared have gone unnoticed.. but we've got it all here in our hearts. we want you to know, we know the truth... Of course we know As...We might have been nothing with out you. Did you ever know that you were our HERO. You were all of those things we're striving to fie... Now we can climb toward that higher mark... Cause you were the wind beneath our WINGS. WE THANK GOD FOR YOU With much LOVE, your Nieces & Nephews.

George Philip Holt, was born May 14, 1923 in Rutherford County, Tennessee to M.F. and Thelma Bowser Holt. He was the second oldest of six children. He was educated in the public schools of Nashville, Tennessee and later at Bowser Christian Institute, a forerunner of Southwestern Christian College. As a child, his family called him Philip. He traveled with his grandfather, G.P. Bowser, a gospel preacher, who inspired him to enter the ministry. He recalled many times how he and his grandfather would drive to new cities, located a good spot, take out their tent, borrow lumber for seats, hook up the electricity to some house or business, and start preaching. Bowser, with Philip as his driver and helper, established several congregations of the Church, using this method. G.P. Holt loved the Gospel and preached for over 60 years. It was said that he preached as hard to ten people as he did to a thousand. Always maintaining an impressive library, he studied and read constantly. G.P. was an author, debater, and a staff writer for the Christian Echo, a publication started by his grandfather.

He came from a family of preachers, consisting of his uncles, A.C. and Hobart Holt, his father, Marion F. Holt and his brother, Marion V. Holt. G.P. Holt loved to preach. He was always looking for a "Gospel Meeting" to attend, and was always complimentary of other speakers. "He never heard a sermon he didn't like," one of his children recalled. On family vacations, he would pull off the highway and go looking for churches and meetings. G.P. preached throughout the United States and in Jamaica, Bermuda, Alaska, and the Bahamas. For many years, he conducted a weekly radio program in Oklahoma City and in Indianapolis, Indiana where he served the Kingsley Terrace Congregation for over thirty years. Holt helped establish congregations in Oklahoma, California, an Illinois. He spoke on many lectureships and was honored at many of our Christian Colleges and Universities, but maintained a lifetime commitment to Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas. There he served as a board member and received an honorary doctorate degree of Humane Letters. He said he never understood why colleges and universities wanted him to speak when they could have gotten preachers who were better trained and more educated.

He was a humble man, a hard worker who often worked "side" jobs including painting, filling vending machines, and selling security products so that his wife could stay at home. G.P. Holt retired from full-time local ministry in 1990, but continued to hold between ten and twenty gospel meetings yearly while battling cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. He was determined to serve God until he died. Although seriously ill, he held his last gospel meeting in Tennessee in the fall of 2000. He taught a Bible class at the Central Point congregation the Sunday before he passed.

In 1942, G.P. married Olivia Busby, the daughter of evangelist T.H. Busby. G.P. affectionately called his wife "Bob." She was a faithful, loving, loyal wife and mother to their six children. In the early morning of his death, she wrapped her arms around him, told him how much she loved him, and he quietly whispered "thank you." His children and grandchildren will remember him as a giant among preachers, but also as a tender, gentle, supportive grandfather who encouraged them in their successes and helped them over the rough spots of life. Holt lived and enjoyed a full life. He was born to Godly parents. He married a beautiful woman who adored him. He was respected and loved by his children and grandchildren. He was esteemed by his peers. He will be missed and not soon forgotten.

G.P. Holt was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Thelma Holt; brothers, Marion and William; sisters, Frances and Geraldine; and son Thomas Harold Holt. He leaves to cherish his memory; his devoted wife, Olivia; sons, George (Devera), Robert (Hope), Carlton (Muriel); daughters, Winifred Jackson and Phyllis (Willie) Davis; 14 grandchildren, Thomas, Richard and George Holt III; C.J. and Brandon Holt; Robbie, Joseph, Christine and Beth Holt; Todd Jackson, Colette Jackson Hynson (Marcus); Brian and Kendall Davis, Monica Davis Sanders (Eric); sister, Charlotte Holt Fuller from Durban South Africa; cousins, Thomas Gill, Joyce Locklayer, David Harrison, and Fannie Bishop; 4 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends. THANK YOU! Our sincere thanks for the hundreds of cards, calls, visits, food, and prayers. A special thanks to Vance Street Church of Christ, The Kingsley Church of Christ, The Mountain View Church of Christ, The Highland Oaks Church of Christ and The Central Pointe Church of Christ for your support of our husband and father during his life. A special thank you to the family of the late Melvin Chappell, and to his wife, Delores, who has been a daughter and a sister in every sense of the word. Thanks to SwCC (Southwest Christian College) and Dr. Jack Evans for continuing the legacy and dream of G.P. Bowser. Thanks to Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ for the use of your facilities. Last, but not least, a Special Thank You to Reggie and Jackie Dulin for making Dad’s life so meaningful in his final months. You were always there. BEARERS' of the __ AFRICAN_ MAHOGANY ... KENDALL DAVIS, BRIAN DAVIS, C.J. HOLT, BRANDON HOLT, RICHARD HOLT, THOMAS HOLT, GEORGE HOLT III , JOSEPH HOLT. HONORARY COURIERS ROOSEVELT WELLS, ROBERT JAMES , EUGENE LAWTON, ORUM TRONE, SR , PAUL HUBBARD, SwCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS . THINE EARTHLY BED LAUREL LAND MEMORIAL PARK DALLAS, TEXAS

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G.P. Holt Dies In Dallas