The Whole City Send Off for Holley

I don’t think I have ever seen so many people at one funeral in my life, but it was no surprise. Duke Chapel was packed with everyone in town and many from out of town who came to celebrate the happy life of Holley Barnes Broughton. Those in the know wore bright colors as we were instructed. Thank goodness so many did because it would be hard to explain why I had a bright pink and green dress on at a funeral.

Jan picked me up and thanks to her husband’s Duke parking tag we were able to get into good parking easily. We sat in the fourth row surrounded by friends. Every where I looked I saw friends.

Holley had planned everything and it was so Holley. We sang and listened to a beautiful Homily and sang some more. At one point I was overcome and had to sit down to sing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and Will the Circle Be Unbroken.

By the time the service was over I was dehydrated. I could not stand outside in the sun and hug people too long so Jan took me to get some water and then suggested we needed ice cream to toast Holley. So that’s what we did.

Paul and the children did a great job of honoring sweet Holley. I can only imagine how exhausted they must be. I pray that everyone who was a witness to her life takes the flame of kindness she lit out into the darkness. Holley was one of a kind, but we can all emulate the sunshine she exuded, even if just a little.

Farewell sweet friend. I felt you through the whole service. You will never be forgotten.