Angela Roddey Holder

Angela Roddey Holder, a native of Rock Hill who became a nationally prominent authority on health care law, died on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at her home in Durham, N.C. She was 71 years old. She was born on March 13, 1938, the daughter of the late John T. Roddey, Jr., and Angela Fisher Roddey. Her ancestors included Squire John Roddey, who laid out the original street plan for the city of Rock Hill, William Lyle Roddey, a prominent business and civic leader of the late 19th century, and John T. Roddey, Sr., who served as Mayor from 1906 to 1912. Her father founded the law firm of Roddey, Carpenter and White, with which she was once associated. She graduated from the National Cathedral School for Girls, H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College of Tulane University, and Tulane Law School. She received a Master of Laws from Yale Law School. She also attended Winthrop Training School, Radcliffe College, and Kings College, London. Upon her admission to the South Carolina Bar in 1960, she joined the law firm founded by her father. She was one of the first women to practice law in the state, and the only woman attorney in York County at the time. She also worked in the Criminal Division of the New Orleans Legal Aid Bureau. From 1962 to 1965, she was Counsel to York County Family Court. From 1964 to 1974, she was Assistant Professor of Political Science at Winthrop College. From 1975 to 1977, she was Executive Director of the Program in Law, Science and Medicine at Yale Law School. From 1977 to 2001, she was Clinical Professor of Pediatrics (Law), Yale University School of Medicine. From 1977 to 1989, she served simultaneously as Counsel for Medico-Legal Affairs, Yale-New Haven Hospital. From 2001 until her retirement in 2007, she was Professor of the Practice of Medical Ethics and Humanities in the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and History of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. She was a member and officer of numerous professional organizations concerned with law and medicine, and had been a columnist for the Journal of the American Medical Association. She was the author of four books and numerous published articles. She is survived by her son, John Thomas Roddey Holder of Charlotte, a faculty member at Winthrop University. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Center for Adolescent Health and the Law, 310 Kildaire Rd., Suite 100, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27516, or to the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, 144 Caldwell St., Rock Hill, S.C. 29730. A graveside service will be held at Laurelwood Cemetery on Friday the 24th at 2:00pm, after which the family will receive guest at the home of David and Diane White, 339 W. Oakland Ave., Rock Hill A memorial service will be held at a later date. Condolences can be emailed to the family at www.basscauthenfuenralhome.com Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.