Palestine High School Alumni Association

03 / 02 / 1920  –   12 / 18 / 2010Fay Griffith Wharton Holden, 90 a beloved mother and grandmother entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at a private retirement home in Odessa, Texas. Fay was born on March 2, 1920 in Palestine, Texas and lived there graduating from Palestine High School in 1932.  She later went to hair dressing school and graduated to become a beauty operator.  It was in Palestine, Texas where she met her first husband, A.A. Wharton and married Aug.22, 1939.

Fay came to Odessa in 1952 with A.A. and their two children, Erion and Andrew to open G.F. Wackers Variety Store on East 8th Street and operated it for many years.  They always taught the young singles in church.

Later Fay established her own real estate company and operated it in Odessa for several years.  She later married Sidney J. Holden and they lived in Odessa until he retired from Odessa College as Dean of Registration and Records and they moved to Palestine, Texas. Fay later returned to Odessa to be closer to her children and their families.

She is survived by her daughter, Erion Wharton Gaston and husband E. P. of Odessa; granddaughter, Debby Huckeba McCollum of Odessa; great-grandaughters, Shauna McCollum of  Odessa, Lori Jackson and husband Daniel of Weatherford, Texas and Kayde McCollum of Odessa; also three great-great-grandchildren, Skylar, Madi and Jaden; brother-in-law Randol Gilmore of San Antonio, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews.

Fay had many talents as she could sew, crochet, knit and she played the piano and the organ. Her great smile will be missed by all of her family

She is preceded in death by her son, Aaron Andrew (Charley) Wharton Jr., her parents Thomas Leroy Griffith and wife Mae Leslie Cook, brother, William Leroy Griffith and wife Gladys Shelton; sisters, Lottie Mae Griffith Johnston and husband Walter, Vivian Griffith Selman and husband Odell, Jennie Griffith, Madeline Griffith Cannon and husband Jack and Ruby Griffith Gilmore and her first husband, A.A. Wharton and her second husband Sidney J. Holden.

A memorial service will be in Palestine, Texas at the New City Cemetery under the direction of Bailey and Foster Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, 2010.

At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sunset Funeral Home.

Palestine Herald Press 12 / 29 / 2010