Ms. Barbara Jean Hollesen

Mrs. Barbara Jean Hollesen was born on December 23, 1943, to the late Mr. John Wesley and Mrs. Lula Belle Kemp, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She was called to God’s Heavenly Garden on August 19, 2023. She was preceded in death by her siblings Sarah K. Gorham, Johnny Kemp Jr., Cecilia Mordecai, Jeffery Kemp, Dorothy M. Johnson, Emma L. Simmons, Larry W. Kemp, and Annie E. Specks. Barbara accepted Jesus Christ at an early age at Beaver Creek Methodist Church. The family later moved to Bonnie Doone where she grew up in Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, she was educated in the Cumberland County School System. In the last few years Barbara continued her worship as a faithful member of the “virtual” Silver Lining Ecumenical Ministry, Inc. in Springfield Gardens, New York. Upon relocating to Queens, New York Barbara met and married Mr. Malcolm Hollesen, who would be her life-long love. She and Malcolm celebrated 38 years of marriage and they had two children and one granddaughter and one grandson. Picture this; the daughter of sharecropper whose hands cropped and strung tobacco, picked tomatoes and peas, years later would be visiting the White House standing with the first Black President of the United States of America, President Barack Obama. The same arms that carried baskets of string beans from the field, she used to embrace the President and same face that burned in this North Carolina sun had a smile on it that could light up world. Yet, the Godly pride of it all was from her daughter, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Caroline Hollesen, who invited her Mom to this historical event and meeting. She was very caring and loved cats. She was very talented. She wrote songs, loved to sing, dance, and enjoyed life mostly with a smile and she was a nurturer. Her grandchildren called her Grandma, her children called her “Ma” and “Mommy”. The family affectionately called her “Barb”, “Aunt Barb”. She was truly a spiritual blessing to the Silver Lining Ecumenical Ministry as “Mother of the Church” and we called her “Aunt Barbara”. She was truly a Woman of God. Her closing remarks at Bible Study and Prayer Meeting were always, “I love you and God Bless you”. Mrs. Barbara Hollesen leaves to cherish her memories four children: Retired Navy Petty Officer Caroline Hollesen, Malcolm Hollesen, Jr. of Norfolk, Va., Edwina Gray of Delaware, and Eugene (Shirley) Gray of Brooklyn, NY. (1) Sister Helen D. McNeill of Fayetteville; (2) Brothers Willie B. (Linda) Kemp of Stedman and Sterling (Virginia) Kemp of Fayetteville. Two grandchildren, Carolnae Hollesen and Ethan Ford. A host of nieces, nephews, family and friends and Church Family, and many other people who were special in her life.

Ms. Barbara Jean Hollesen

December 23, 1943 - August 19, 2023