Dr. Charles Milligan Holman Sr.

Dr. Charles Milligan Holman, Sr. was born September 2, 1920 in his parent’s home at 606 North Jackson Street in Albany, Georgia. He was the third son of William Clinton Holman, Sr. and Wilhelmina Lelage Griffin Holman. He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Anne Edge Holman; his two older brothers, William(Rip) Clinton Holman, Jr., Robert (Bob) Griffin Holman and his sister, Clementine (Tiny) Holman Bethea, all of Albany. He graduated from high school at Baylor School for Boys in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He attended the University of Georgia for two years, before transferring to Emory University where he graduated with a BS degree in 1939. He received his MD from the Emory University School of Medicine in 1941. In the fall of 1940, while attending a dance at Emory, he met Miss Anne Blackmar Edge of Decatur, Georgia. They fell in love and were married on June 16, 1942. They shared a love of many things, including nature, the outdoors, sports, and often said laughingly that not only were they devoted to each other, but they were “best friends.” They lived in many places during his medical training and his military service during World War II. He served a Surgical Internship at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Quebec. At the end of that year, he entered the United States Medical Corp and was stationed at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts. He served his country during WWII as a Hospital Train Commander, taking wounded soldiers being returned to the United States from Europe on a train to the hospitals nearest their hometowns all across America. During this time, he and Anne lived in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod. After the war, he returned to Atlanta to complete his medical training at Emory University School of Medicine and Grady Hospital. IN 1949, he returned to his hometown in Albany, Georgia where he began his practice in OB-GYN until his retirement in 1985. Dr. Holman served as Chief of OB-GYN staff at Phoebe Putney Hospital for many years. Over the years, he received recognition for his hard work and dedication to both his patients and to Albany. A former member of the Albany Rotary Club, he was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was declared a Fellow in the College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists in 1959. He received an appreciation certificate for many years of Volunteer Service at ACTO, and received the Book of GOLDEN DEEDS award from the Albany Exchange Club in 2001. In 2002, Dr. Charlie wrote a collection of family stories about his GROWING UP SOUTHERN. The small book was published by his brother-in-law Walter Mitchell, Jr. of Southern Accents. He had a gift for genuinely enjoying every moment of his life for which he will long be remembered. While he practiced OB-GYN for nearly 40 years in Albany, he also loved the outdoors. When he had time off from seeing his patients or delivering babies, he would head straight for the woods to hunt or fish with Anne, one of his three children or 18 grandchildren. He would often tell people how thankful he was to “THE OLD MASTER” for his family and the times he shared with them. He wanted to share his love of nature with them. He was a blessing to all who knew him. Dr. Charlie is survived by his three children: Dr. Charles (Tod) Milligan Holman, Jr. and his wife, Jean of Ocean Springs, MS; Judith (Judy) Holman Deriso and her husband, Walter (Sonny) Mabry Deriso, Jr. of Albany/ and Atlanta; and Dinah Holman Freeman and her husband, Rodney (Rod) Lee Freeman of Brentwood, TN. He has eight grandchildren: Holly Holman Bailey(John) of Charleston, WV; Lauren Holman Hensley (John)of Mobile, AL.; Walter Mabry (Walt) Deriso, III (Anna)of Atlanta; Dr. Charles (Charlie) Holman Deriso (Rachael)of Albany; Richard Warren Deriso (Suzanne)of Atlanta; Kelly Freeman Davis (Scott of Ocala, FL.); Robert(Bobby) Clinton Freeman (Adrienne) of Franklin, TN; Richard Lee Freeman (Meg)of Franklin, TN. He has twenty-five great grandchildren: John, Brooks and Lisette Bailey of Charleston, WV; Mills, Charlie, and Walter Hensley of Mobile, AL; Walt IV and Henry Deriso of Atlanta; Charles “Holman”, Carter, Jackson, Denham and Ellie Deriso of Albany; Margaret, Emily Anne, and Julia Deriso of Atlanta; Haley, Lauren, and Caroline Davis of Ocala; Charlie, Ellie, Niles, and Henry Freeman of Franklin, TN; and Wells and Gray Freeman of Franklin, TN. He loved each and every one of them. A son, a grandson and three great-grandsons were named either Charles or Charles Holman after their grandfather. All his family are thankful for the good example their Dad and Grandad set for all. Mrs. Mary McConnell took excellent care of Dr. Charlie. She is a valued family friend who has been devoted to looking after both of the Holman couple as they aged. Mrs. Mamie Benjamin and her daughter, Lynnette, also are devoted helpers whom the family has relied on. A memorial service for Dr. Holman will be at 11 AM on Friday, September 15, 2017 at First United Methodist Church, Albany, Georgia where Dr. Holman was a faithful member from his birth in 1920 until his death on September 4, 2017 at age 97. A private burial will take place at Crown Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern on Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 6-8 PM. The family will also receive friends at First United Methodist Church prior to the memorial service from 10 AM until 11 AM. Memorial consideration in memory of Dr. Holman: Emory University School of Medicine at www.emory.edu/give First United Methodist Albany Youth Ministry, 307 Flint. Avenue, Albany, Ga. 3170l; West End Community Church Youth Ministry, 235 White Bridge PW, Nashville, TN 37209.

Dr. Charles Milligan Holman Sr.

September 2, 1920 - September 4, 2017