Rev. Dr. Donald Chamberlain Holness Sr.
by DFH Inc. on 10/02/18
Rev. Dr. Donald Chamberlain Holness Sr., 98, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 at Jefferson City Health and Rehab Center. He was born in Bronx, New York, but as an infant migrated to Jamaica in the British West Indies and returned to the United States as a young man. His primary and secondary education was received in the British West Indies. He attended Stones College in New Haven, Connecticut, earned a Bachelor of Science from Boston University, a Bachelor of Theology from Baltimore College of the Bible, a Bachelor of Law from Columbia University in New York City, a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and a doctorate (Ph.D.), also from Columbia.
He served in the armed forces as a combat fighter pilot, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.
Dr. Holness served as a pastor of Baptist churches in Southampton, New York City, Tarrytown, Syracuse, Albany, Saratoga Springs, and Yonkers, New York. Later, he served in Winston-Salem, Wilkesboro, Lexington, Tobaccobille, and Spencer, North Carolina. His last pastoral charge was at Young’s Temple AME Zion Church in Morristown, where he served from July 1999 until his retirement as a full time pastor in 2003.
Until his health began to decline, Dr. Holness was very active in the Hamblen County community as an active member of his church, member and founder of Union of Churches Ministerial Alliance, member og the Reunion of Ages, President of the NAACP, and member of the Rotary Club.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children, Donald Holness, Jr., and Charles (Shelley) Holness; brother-in-law, George (Janie) Richmond; special cousin, Cassandra Osborne; several grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and other family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 at Young’s Temple AME Zion Church, with funeral services to follow. Burial will be Monday, Oct. 8 at Hamblen Memory Gardens at 10 a.m. with full military honors Rev. Dr. Donald Chamberlain Holness Sr., 98, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 at Jefferson City Health and Rehab Center. He was born in Bronx, New York, but as an infant migrated to Jamaica in the British West Indies and returned to the United States as a young man. His primary and secondary education was received in the British West Indies. He attended Stones College in New Haven, Connecticut, earned a Bachelor of Science from Boston University, a Bachelor of Theology from Baltimore College of the Bible, a Bachelor of Law from Columbia University in New York City, a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York, and a doctorate (Ph.D.), also from Columbia.
He served in the armed forces as a combat fighter pilot, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.
Dr. Holness served as a pastor of Baptist churches in Southampton, New York City, Tarrytown, Syracuse, Albany, Saratoga Springs, and Yonkers, New York. Later, he served in Winston-Salem, Wilkesboro, Lexington, Tobaccobille, and Spencer, North Carolina. His last pastoral charge was at Young’s Temple AME Zion Church in Morristown, where he served from July 1999 until his retirement as a full time pastor in 2003.
Until his health began to decline, Dr. Holness was very active in the Hamblen County community as an active member of his church, member and founder of Union of Churches Ministerial Alliance, member og the Reunion of Ages, President of the NAACP, and member of the Rotary Club.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children, Donald Holness, Jr., and Charles (Shelley) Holness; brother-in-law, George (Janie) Richmond; special cousin, Cassandra Osborne; several grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and other family and friends.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 at Young’s Temple AME Zion Church, with funeral.
