Please be in prayer for Rev. Jeff Richards, pastor of Covenant ARP Church in Statesville, NC whose wife of forty-nine years went to be with Jesus last night, March 23. Please pray for the family as well as the Covenant Church family. All are invited to attend the service. The obituary is below.
Deborah Gail Holshouser Richards went to be with her Lord on March 23.
Debbie was born in Salisbury on October 24, 1951, and grew up in Rowan country, where she graduated from East Rowan High School in 1970 before enrolling at Pfeiffer University with a scholarship in chemistry. She lived in many states including Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey before moving back to Salisbury in April, 1986. She and her husband Dr. Jeffrey Jon Richards were involved together in Christian ministry for many years in various churches, universities and seminaries, and missions in the United States and in several other countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mexico, Germany, and Ukraine. Debbie taught at North Hills Christian School in Salisbury from 1990-2012. Their twin daughters graduated from North Hills in 2001 and UNC-Chapel Hill in 2005.
Debbie is survived by her husband of forty-nine years, twin daughters, Emily Strobach, spouse Brian, and Lauren Rosenfarb of St. Louis, MO; twin grandsons, Leo and Thaddeus Strobach; sister, Joyce Benton, spouse Samuel Benton, of Atlanta; brother, Michael Holshouser, spouse, Sheila Beck Holshouser, of Salisbury; as well as her parents, Donald and Geraldine Sides Holshouser of Salisbury.
Debbie is remembered for her friendly, vibrant personality, love and compassion for her family and others, musical, and teaching skills, but primarily her passion to share Christ in all that she did.
A memorial service will be held at the Catawba College Chapel on April 9 at 2:00 PM.
Jeff, Emily, Lauren,
Sorry for your loss. Your wife was a dear friend to so many. We will all miss her. Debbie was the epitome of kindness and goodness. It was rare that she wasn’t smiling and doing her best to help others. Though she struggled in the last few years she was still happy to see you. Her Christianity was more than just a garment she wore to be seen by others. I appreciated working with her at North Hills, and witnessing her Christian Spirit. We are praying for your family as you mourn her loss and celebrate the end of her suffering and the beginning of her life in heaven.
Love, the Tollivers
Praying for your heart’s peace as you & family travel this life’s journey.
Praying for the family and covenant church family.