Obituary of Shelby Holly

A gracefully refined and elegant woman of dignity and honor, decorated with the finesse of the daughters of Jerusalem, Shelby J. Holly quietly ingratiated the classic demeanor of a devoted First Lady. At the side of her husband, the late Elder Alonzo L. Holly, Founding Father of the Soul Stirring Church of God in Christ of Long Beach, Mother Holly invigorated the pure sound of early Pentecost at her fingertips, masterfully and skillfully. Born into the praying home of the late Deacon Leonard Hardy and Valerise Gallaher Hardy, June 21, 1937 in Gilliam, West Virginia, Shelby's gift for music was discovered early in childhood. While other children marveled the launching of steel across the mountains of the coal mining country of McDowell County, young Shelby was able to listen, memorize and play–with polished precision–the hymns she heard each Sunday Morning at the family Church, Mt. Ebenezer Baptist Church in Algoma, WV. Desiring that Shelby be formally trained, her mother arranged for Shelby to be properly taught by the distinguished Madame Houchins. As a piano student and musician for the Senior Choir, Gospel Chorus and Junior Choir at Mt. Ebenezer, concurrent with accompanying the Gospel Chorus for the United Holy Church of America in Gary, WV, Shelby accelerated remarkably, surpassing even the proficiency of her school music instructors. Not surprisingly, during the industrial entry of women into the workforce, young Shelby J. Hardy, crowned with the favor of God upon her life, was able to enjoy the applause of Post-war recital halls as a celebrated pianist. The even-tempered dexterity of her brilliant attack in performing the robust etudes of the Classical period was matchless and typically flawless. Upon her graduation from Elkhorn High School in Powhatan, West Virginia, a bright and promising future for Shelby was written across the horizon. Shortly after the 1959 premiere of Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, the first Broadway play written by an African American woman, young Shelby and her sister Anita set their sights on New York. After locating temporary employment in Bellmore, New York – Shelby, joined by Anita–eventually settled into her new career in the City of Long Beach preceded by the news of her musical talent which was quickly spreading throughout the region. Artistically accomplished in every musical genre, complimented by her matriculation at the New York School of Music in Manhattan, Shelby possessed a clever and proficient technique which she passed down to her own students whom she rigorously trained in the Russian school of piano performance from the conservatory setting of her home for more than 30 years. Her prized pupils–Michael Allen Davis, Mark Beavers and Rona Mitchell–brought widespread acclaim to Sister Shelby's professional pedagogy, underscoring her public esteem as a Master Instructor. Having received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the texture of Sister Shelby's anointing set the stage for her acclaim as a highly sought-after pianist for traveling radio chorales in the 1960's including the famed Templette Singers. At the height of her popular demand, Sister Shelby ministered as Pianist for the Gospel Chorus of the Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church in Long Beach under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. J. J. Evans. It was in the blossoming of springtime 1968 that she met, instantly loved and married the towering, stately and majestically handsome pioneering evangelist of Long Beach, Elder Alonzo L. Holly, on December 21, 1968. The newly-wed Shelby Holly left the Gospel Chorus at Christian Light in the capable musical hands of her dear sister, Anita Yvonne. In 1976, Pastor and Mrs. Holly became the surrogate parents of Sakina Grace Price–they joy of their lives–whom they raised from infancy until adulthood. Sakina fulfilled their lives with the added joy of six beautiful grandchildren–Joseph, Javonn, Jonathan, Jerome, Joshua and Jewell. Sakina's precious transition precedes Mother Holly's. Back at the Temple–466 Park Place–the sanctuary would swing with a glorious tempo set to the touch of Mother Holly's skillful elocution at the piano. The classic minor octave scales that pronounced the introduction to the Soul Stirring Chorus' signature foot-stomping selection "Take Off Your Shoes Moses" became Sister Holly's trademark! Her vocal lead of "Take Your Burdens to the Lord" is richly embedded in the musical chronicles of Soul Stirring. Yet, there was no sound quite like the "Soul Stirring" Sound anywhere on Long Island. The dynamic duet of Elder Holly–the late Bishop O. M. Kelly's personal soloist–singing "Double Portion" accompanied by his own lovely Shelby at the piano, delivered a soul-searching sound from which hundreds of hearts were touched, ultimately surrendering their lives to Christ. Still Sister Holly, as First Lady and Women's Department President at Soul Stirring, was able to balance her life with a teaching career at the Long Beach Head Start from its inception in 1979 until 1996. During this time, the formation of the Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in 1988 under the Prelacy of Bishop Frank Otha White welcomed the appointment of Mother Evelyn Green as Supervisor of Women who, in turn, appointed Evangelist Holly President of the State Women's Choir, serving for more than 25 years. Never ceasing to exercise the virtues of the quintessential woman of God, she gave herself diligently to fasting and prayer while studying Evangelism, General Bible and Teacher's Training at the O. M. Kelly Religious Training Institute under the instruction of Dr. Braxton, Dr. Carl Mims and Dr. Frank White. In the mid-winter of her life, Sister Shelby enjoyed the rewards of retirement from her second career as a Home Health Aide for Allen Health Care, Inc., headquartered in Queens, NY. The saints everywhere are joined together in celebration of Mother Holly's glorious homegoing and rejoice in the touch of triumph she has left among those who will perpetuate her sanctified legacy: One brother, Mr. George Thomas (Frances) Hardy of Hempstead, NY; her beloved sister, District Missionary Anita Yvonne Robinson of Long Beach, NY; six cherished grandchildren: Joseph, Javonn and Jonathan of Long Beach; Jerome, Joshua and Jewell of Wheatley Heights, NY; four nephews: George Jr. of Lake Wells, Florida, Leonard of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bruce of Winter Haven, Florida and Jeffrey, also of Lake Wales, Florida; two Godchildren, Ms. Vernell McNeill and Mr. Alonzo Hodge, both of Long Beach, many dear friends, neighbors and d her beloved Soul Stirring Church of God in Christ Family. With her sisters at each side, the legendary Delores Barrett would lift her voice and declare the life testimonial lyrics of the Reverend James Cleveland, "I don't feel no ways tired, I've come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me that the road would be easy, I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me." – Done in Love, The Family.