Ethel C. Holman

Ethel Cora Holman, born to the union of James Wesley Holman and Cora Shaw Holman, in the settlement of Barnesville, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia, was barely six months old when her father died at forty-six. Her young, widowed mother, left with baby Ethel and her brothers Andrew and John, had to make the hard decision to split up her family, with Ethel ending up in the household of Rev. David Richards in Clay Ashland, Montserrado County. Ethel received her formal education through home schooling, with emphasis on culinary arts, paramedics, and home economics.

Ethel accepted our lord and savior at a tender age and was baptized at Howell Macedonia Baptist Church, Barnersville, whose original structure was built by her late father. She later transferred her membership to Providence Baptist Church, where she remained until coming to the United States, shortly before the outbreak of Liberia’s civil war. Settling in Brockton, Massachusetts, Ethel became an active member of the Central United Methodist Church. Still faithful to Providence Baptist Church, Ethel attended annual meetings of the Providence Baptist Church Association of the USA.

Professionally, Ethel worked as a nurse’s aide at Maternity Center, Bassa Community, Monrovia. She later worked as switchboard operator at the then Ministry of Labor, Youth and Sports, until retirement. She then immigrated to the United States and worked at the Brockton Hospital for 15 years and retired in 1999.

Ethel transitioned peacefully in her sleep at the home of her daughter, Velecia Prall-Major, in Brockton on December 16, 2020, after protracted illness.

Ethel is predeceased by her husband David Opoku and her daughter Akua Opoku. She is survived by her children Jenneh Winifred David (Sam Allison), Velecia Prall-Major (Gus* Deceased), Christiana Comfort Opoku (Max), Ernestina Yaa Opoku, Roselyn Giddings (Thomas), Josephine Bassie-Horton (John Ernie), Roosevelt Gould, Jr., (Nessie) and Martin Kweku Opoku (Vivian), twenty-five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and seven great-great  grandchildren.

Ethel Cora Holman is also survived by her siblings: Elizabeth Gould, D. Emmett Gould, Victoria M. Gould, D. Frank Gould, II, Angelina Gould, Antoinette Gould-Wotorson, George B. Gould, J. F. Kennedy Gould, Lovette Gould Banks, Shadrick Gould, Bennetta Gould-Johnson, Stephen Gould, Geneva Gould, Cora Gould and Darphine Gould, as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends in Liberia, England, Ghana, and the USA.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday January 9, 2021 at Waitt Funeral Home

850 North Main Street Brockton, MA 02301

Viewing 9:00 am - 9:55 am celebration Service 10:00 am - 11:00 am.

Interment will follow immediately at the Melrose Cemetery, 88 N Pearl St, Brockton, MA 02301

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