Chiyoko Uechi Holland

Rock Hill - Our mother, grandmother and great-grand mother, Chiyoko Uechi Holland, has traveled on to be with our Father in Heaven and with all the waiting loved ones who have gone before her. She was "Oba-san" to all of us, meaning Grandmother in the Japanese language and for all her family she was and always will be "Oba". No words can describe the emptiness she left in our lives. We miss her touch, her voice and simply we miss her being around us.

Oba was born on January 15. 1929 at the island of Okinawa her life was formed by the gentle and loving touch of the culture in which she grew up. Japanese was her native language. She met her husband of 52 years while he was stationed with the US Air force in Okinawa. She had to learn English. When she came to America at the age of 33 she left behind the family in which grew up and started a family of her own. She instilled in all of us the values of her culture which we passed on to our children and they passed to theirs. As we were small we remember how tight she held us in her arms like she never would let us go, this feeling of being one with her will always be with us as we felt her love, for eternity we will remember the children songs she taught us then, songs which we later taught our children and they taught theirs. Oba was always the source of strength and comfort. She was a home maker, a role she enjoyed throughout her entire life. Oba was blessed with many talents which she shared with us many of them we used over the years to benefit with our families. About a year ago when Oba suffered from the affects of a stroke we saw it our privilege to take care of her, these were special moments with her and much love was exchanged. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a strong testimony of the Gospel which she often shared with us.

Oba is survived by her husband, Walter Leonard Holland Jr. her four children, Misae (Judy) Holland Schuster, Kike Holland Blades, Walter Leonard Holland III. Hudson Trose Holland, 13 grand children and 6 great grand children.

Oba's passing leaves a void in all our lives and she will be missed always.

The family will be receiving friends beginning at 12:00 noon. Her memorial service to celebrate her life will be at 2:00 PM. Both events are being held on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in York South Carolina, 1130 East Alexander Love Highway.

Whitesell Funeral Home is serving the family.