Ninth Generation

520. Howard "Chick" HOLDERNESS^119,246 was born on 2 November 1902 in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina.²⁴³ He died on 7 May 1992 at the age of 89 in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina.²⁴⁷

Graduated from Harvard School of Business in 1925. In 1937 he married Adelaide Fortune, daughter of Dr. Mrs. A. F. Fortune of Greensboro, NC Had 5 children. The marriage date given here seems to "off" by a year or so.

7 Sep 1925. The SS Laconia arrived in New York City, having sailed from Liverpool, England on the 29th of August. Howard and William H. Holderness were passengers. Howard, age 23, born 2 Nov 1902, Tarboro, NC. William, age 21, born 1 July 1904, Tarboro. Gave their US address as "Tarboro, NC".

In the 1930 Census, Howard, William & Thomas were all living in town in Greensboro, boarding with Charles W. Angler and his wife Josephine. Howard and Thomas were both selling life insurance; William was a lawyer.
1930 Census. Greensboro, Guilford, NC, Hh 232
Charles W. Angle, 33, married at age 22, Contractor, Construction
Josephine, wife, 33, married at 22
T. G. Swentson, Servant, 28, Butler, Private home
Howard Holderness, Lodger, 28, Clerk, Life insurance
T. T. Holderness, Lodger, 23, Clerk, Life insurance
W. H. Holderness, Lodger, 25, Attorney, Law

1933 Greensboro City Directory
Holderness, Howard H. Treas Jefferson Standard Life Inc Co. residence, 700 Country Club dr
Holderness, T. Thurston. clk, Jefferson Standard Life Ins Co. r-700 Country Club dr
Holderness, Wm H. (Brooks, Parker & Holderness) r-700 Country Club dr

16 Feb 1942 World War II Draft Registration
Howard Holderness had no middle name - he lived at 2000 Granville Road in Greensboro. He was 39, born 2 Nov 1902 in Tarboro, NC. Adelaide Fortune Holderness of the same address would always know his address. He was employed by Jefferson Standard Life Ins Co, Greensboro.
Howard was 5' 8 1/2' tall, 168 lbs. Had blue eyes, brown hair.

1946 Greensboro NC City Directory
Holderenss, Howard (Adelaide F) Pres-treas Holderness & Co. home: 2000 Granville Rd
Holderness, T. T. v-pres-sec Holderness & Co residence: 900 N. Elm
Holderness, Wm H. (Martha: Brooks, McLendon, Brim & Holderness) home: 500 County Club Dr.

1950 Census. Greensboro, Guilford Co, NC, Hh 65
Howard Holderness, 47, Investment Advisor, Investment Company
Adelaide F., wife, 37
Adelaide L., dau, 13
Howard Jr., son, 10
Alexandra F., dau, 9
Richard, son, 4
Pamela L., dau, 1
Ronelva McAdoo, maid, Negro, 33, b. NC, servant, private home

1958 Greensboro City Directory.
Holderness, A. Lucinda, studt, r - 2000 Granville Rd
Holderness & Co Thos T. Holderness, pres-treas. Wm H. Holderness v-pres-sect. invs. 101 N. Elm
Holderness Howard (Adelaide F) Pres Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Co. 101 N. Elm
Holderness, Howard Jr studt r- 2000 Granville rd
Holderness, Jane H. studt r - 500 County Club dr
Holderness, Sandara A. studt r - 2000 Granville rd [Alexandria, I think]
Holderness, Thos T (Dorothy H) pres-treas Holderness & Co; v-pres-sect Howell Auto Finance Inc. home - 2013 St. Andrews rd
Holderness, Wm H (Brent W) lwyr 440 W. Market; v-pres-sect Holderness & Co. sec Starmount Co Inc and Friendly Center Inc home - 500 Country Club dr
Holderness, Wm H. Jr. USAF r - 500 Country Club dr

15 Nov 1959. Howard Holderness of 2000 Granville Rd, Greensboro, NC arrived in New York on Flight 2117 PAA from Paris. Born 2 Nov 1902, Tarboro, NC. Visa issued, Washington, DC.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA) - May 9, 1992
Deceased Name: Mr. Howard Holderness
Insurance titan
Greensboro, N.C. - Mr. Howard Holderness, 89, the insurance titan who put Jefferson-Pilot and Greensboro on the map in the 1950's, died Thursday after a long illness. Mr. Holderness, former president of Jefferson-Pilot, died at Moses Cone Extended Care Center. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church.

The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte NC, 9 May 1992, Saturday, p.28
Insurance exec Howard HoldernessDies
Tarboro native led Jefferson-Pilot to national reputation
GREENSBORO - Howard Holderness, the insurance titan who helped put Jefferson-Pilot and Greensboro on the map in the 1950's, died Thursday after a long illness. He was 89.
Mr. Holderness, former president of Jefferson-Pilot, died at Moses Cone Extended Care Center. The funeral will be at 2 pm today at First Presbyterian Church.
"He was a tremendously human person," said Charles Myers Jr., former Burlington Industries president and a longtime friend, "He stood for the right things."
The Tarboro native's achievements began with graduation from August Military Academy; UNC-Chapel Hill in 1923 as a Phi Beta Kappa student; and from the Harvard School of Business Administration in 1925.
He joined the firm then known as Jefferson Standard out of Harvard and spent his first six years in the mortgage department. He was named manager of the real estate department in 1931 and in 1932 was elected treasurer. In 1945, after 13 years as vice president, treasurer, and member of the board of directors, he resigned to organize the firm of Holderness and Company Investments with his brother, T. T. Holderness.
In 1950, Mr. Holderness returned to Jefferson Standard as its president, replacing Ralph Price. He served until 1967, when he was elected chairman of the board. After 37 years with Jefferson Standard, Mr. Holderness retired as an active officer of the company but remained chairman of the board and a member of the finance and executive committees.
He is survived by his wife, Adelaide Fortune Holderness; daughters, Lucinda Wilcox of Chapel Hill, Sandra Davis of Raleigh and Pamela Hassenfelt of Greensboro; sons, Dr. Howard Holderness and Richard Holderness of Greesboro; sister, Lee Davis of Richmond; and 24 grandchildren.

Buried Forest Lawn Cemetery, Greensboro, Guilford co, NC.

Howard "Chick" HOLDERNESS and Adelaide Lucinda FORTUNE were married on 4 April 1936 in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina.^243,248 Adelaide Lucinda FORTUNE was born on 10 January 1913 in Guilford County, North Carolina. In her 88th year for Holderness Reunion May 2001. She died on 14 December 2013 at the age of 100 in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina.

Her father given in the NC Birth Index as A. F. Fortune. She was born in Guilford Co, NC. Marriage record states her parents were A. F. and Edna W. Fortune.

1920 Census. Greensboro Ward 4, Guilford, NC, Hh 170
317 West Market St
Alexander Fortune, age 45, b. NC, Physician
Edna W., wife, 38, b. VA
Adelaide, dau, 7, b. NC
Benjamin, son, 3 years, 5 months, b. NC
Nancy Glass, housekeeper, 48

1930 Census. Greensboro, Guilford, NC, Hh 569
A. F. Fortune, age 56, age 44 when married, Doctor, Medical
Edna, wife, 48, age 36 when married
Adalaid, dau, 17. Ben, son, 15
Nancy Glass, housekeeper, 58
Either there was a miscommunication concerning the information about the age when married, or Alexander and Edna had been married only 12 years - suggesting she was not the mother of Adelaide and Benjamin.

29 May 1935 The Queen of Bermuda sailed from Hamilton Bermuda on 27 May 1935, arriving in New York City on May 29th. One of the passengers was Adelaide Fortune, age 22, born 1913 in Greensboro, NC. She gave her home address as 1000 N. Elm, Greensboro

The News and Observer, Raleigh, NC, 12 Apr 1936, Sunday, p.20
Weddings
Holderness - Fortune
Miss Adelaide Lucinda Fortune, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Alexander Fletcher Fortune of Greensboro, to Howard Holderness of Tarboro and Greensboro, on Saturday, April 4, in Greensboro. At home, 2010 Granvile Road, Irving Park, Greensboro.

Posted on 16 December 2013:
ADELAIDE FORTUNE HOLDERNESS GREENSBORO
Adelaide Fortune Holderness, 100, died peacefully in her home on Saturday, December 14th. Adelaide was woman of strong faith, fine character and true beauty. Her curiosity and sense of humor attracted friends of all ages. Most importantly, our beloved "Tutu" was a devoted wife and the remarkable matriarch of eighty-eight children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Adelaide was born on January 10, 1913 to the late Alexander Fletcher Fortune, M.D. and Edna Wootten Fortune. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard "Chick" Holderness, and her brother, Dr. Benjamin F. Fortune.
She is survived by her children and their many descendants including Lucinda Holderness of Chapel Hill; Howard Holderness, Jr. and wife, Mary of Greensboro, Sandra Davis and husband Lawrence of Raleigh; and Richard Holderness and wife, Julie and Pam Hassenfelt and husband Steve all of Greensboro.
Adelaide was a proud life long resident of Greensboro. She attended Greensboro Senior High and graduated from Woman's College, now UNC-Greensboro in 1934. Adelaide and Chick married in 1936 and began a wonderful 56-year love story. They adored and respected each other and always centered their lives on faith, family and community. Both served as active leaders in First Presbyterian Church and would often tell their children "service is the rent we pay for God's gift of living on this earth."
Adelaide was a firm believer in civic responsibility, and dedicated much of her time to the betterment of her community. She was the former President of the Junior League and served on the Board of Directors of The Children's Home Society, United Arts Council, Community Chest, YWCA, and the Council of Social Agencies. In 1982 she was named Greensboro's Woman of the Year in recognition of her leadership in civic affairs. As a loyal daughter of North Carolina, she loved her work as the President of the North Carolina Museum of History Associates and as a member of the Tryon Palace Commission.
Her most enduring community legacy will be her tireless work on behalf of higher education in North Carolina. In addition to her service on the UNCG Board of Trustees, Adelaide was the chair of the Alumni Association, board member of the Weatherspoon Gallery Association, leader of the Centennial Planning Board and the catalyst in establishing four major scholarship programs, including the Holderness Fellowships for graduate study in the arts. She received an honorary LLD degree from UNC-G in 1975 and the Centennial Award in 1992. Her passion for higher education extended beyond her alma mater to the larger UNC system. Adelaide was one of the first women selected for the new consolidated Board of Trustees of the University Of North Carolina and served from 1967-1972, when she was elected to the restructured UNC Board of Governors. She was the first woman to have a major leadership role on the board, serving as vice chairman from 1976-80. Adelaide and Chick's interest and generosity extended to support for medical education at UNC. They established the Alexander F. Fortune Biomedical Computation Center in 1970 and the Holderness Medical Fellowship Program in 1981 to provide additional training to promising medical students. In 1984, Adelaide and Chick became the first couple to receive the University Award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the UNC Board of Governors.
We extend our love and gratitude to Linda Murrell, Margaret Cheek, and Dr. Tom Brackbill, and appreciate the invaluable love, support and care provided by Comfort Keepers and Hospice of the Piedmont.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 18th at 11 am at First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends following the service. The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church, 617 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401; University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1000 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC 27403; Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Dr., High Point, NC 27262 or the charity of your choice. Hanes Lineberry N. Elm Chapel is assisting the Holderness family.

Howard "Chick" HOLDERNESS and Adelaide Lucinda FORTUNE had the following children: