Aliki Mackres Holland

Obituary

GREENSBORO – Our beautiful mother Aliki Mackres Holland, 80, died peacefully on Sunday, November 30, 2014 at Beacon Place surrounded by her family.

Aliki was born April 27, 1934 to Vassilios (William) and Eleni Mackres in Brockton, MA. Her childhood was unique as she attended both American and Greek schools, the latter to retain her family’s Greek heritage. She was a graduate of Brockton Senior High School, class of 1952, and attended Simmons College in Boston, MA, where she received a BA in Fashion Design and Retailing.

Following her graduation, Aliki moved to Manhattan where she worked as a retail buyer for Lord & Taylor and later for the live TV show “Omnibus”. She met her future husband Otis L. Holland, also of Manhattan and a native of Greensboro, NC in 1956, eventually marrying him in 1958. In their first year of 49 years of marriage, they moved to Los Angeles when Otis was selected by Burlington Industries as the primary representative for the California market.

After moving back to Greensboro in 1960, Aliki was a loving and devoted mother and wife. She was a strong advocate of excelling in education and passed the desire to do one’s very best along to her children. She obtained her teaching certificate and was a substitute math teacher for Greensboro city schools for a number of years.

An excellent athlete, Aliki loved playing tennis at Latham Park and J. Spencer Love and was a member of Starmount Country Club and Forest Oaks Country Club. In addition to being a skilled decorator, she was a very talented artist, and we will cherish her beautiful paintings and drawings.  Our mother was also a fierce defender of animals and adopted many dogs and cats in need over her lifetime. She worked tirelessly to find good homes for other abandoned animals. She deeply loved and remembered them all.     

In addition to her parents, Aliki was predeceased by her loving husband Otis L. Holland and her siblings, Katherine Mackres, Arthur Mackres, and Stanley Mackres of Brockton, MA.

She is survived by daughter Katherine and son-in-law Dan Campbell of Greensboro, son Taylor Holland of Cary, NC, special friend Ray Therriault of Raleigh, NC who was like a second son to her and many special cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.    

Per our mother’s wishes, a memorial toast will be co-hosted by the family and dear family friends Melissa Greer and Chip Callaway at 3pm, Sunday, December 7th at 2215 Pinecrest Road, Greensboro, NC 27403.  Melissa would like to warn everyone that her yard does not look like Chip’s. 

Our family would like to thank Dr. Kimberlee Shaw of Eagle Family Medicine for her guidance and expertise. We are also grateful for the gentle and kind home nursing care agents from Piedmont Home Care and Home Instead and for the wonderful talent at Beacon Place, who provided incredible care and comfort for Aliki. We also would like to mention the special attention from Dr. Mark Whitley of Cobb Animal Clinic, who took such considerate care of “Arbo”, our mother’s pet who also recently passed away. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to either the Guilford County Animal Shelter, 4525 West Wendover Ave., Greensboro, NC 27409 or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Avenue, Greensboro N.C.  27405.