Servant. Sister. Mother. Daughter. Friend. Mother Bertha Lee Stokes Holden was born in Dumas, Arkansas on July 30, 1932, to the late Bertha and Charlie Stokes. She slept away into eternal rest on February 22, 2026, while in her home.  Young Bertha Lee was a sharp and enterprising child who t ook her family duties very seriously. She was educated in the Dumas, AR school system. However, as the third of twenty children, she also began working at eight years old to help her family. As she matured, Bertha became eager to pursue better opportunities. In the late 1940’s, she migrated north to Connecticut. Prior to relocating to Connecticut, Bertha met a dashing young man from her hometown named Ivory Willis (who later became Bishop Ivory Willis Holden). The two went on to marry and have six children. While in Connecticut, Bertha was employed by UniRoyal and U.S. Repeating Arms (Winchester).  “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10a) This scripture was Mother Bertha Holden’s mantra for ministry. During her 93 years on this Earth, she was blessed to serve at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ, Trinity Temple Church of God in Christ, and Holy Tabernacle Church of God in Christ. She also fellowshipped at various churches in the area. Eventually she landed at BethCar Fellowship and then Promise Land Church of God in West Haven, CT. True to the scripture, Mother Holden did whatsoever her hands found to do.  From ushering, to hospitality and managing large crowds with ease, to sharing her expertise with younger women in the church, to opening up her home for dinner on Official Day of the Holy Convocation (and making her children polish the silver for their guests coming over), to purchasing hymnals, to frying chicken for church events – whatsoever! Mother Bertha served with all her might! Mother Holden enjoyed cooking, attending social events, and spending time with friends and family. She was especially fond of the time she spent with her Park Ridge friends, and looked forward to every event. However, her most treasured and absolute favorite past time in the world was shopping! Tag sales, garage sales, clearance, thrift stores – if a sale was in the air, Mother Bertha Holden was THERE! Loved ones will fondly recall the gifts she bought them from a store that had a sale going on or the trinkets she ordered them from the home shopping channel. Friends will smile when they think of the delicious chicken and dumplings, cube steak, and sweet potato pies she would make and serve while they visited. Additionally, anyone who ever met Mother Holden can attest to the fact that no matter where she was going – to church, to the store, to an event – she was going to be DRESSED! Armed with an extraordinary and unique eye for fashion, “a passion for fashion”, one might say, Mother Holden was well-known for the great pride she took in her appearance. Red, pink, leopard – no matter the color or the print, you could expect Mother Holden to be adorned from head to toe. By her own admission, she never liked to go anywhere “half-steppin.” Now, we understand that these clothing items also taught us about how Mother Holden showed love. Like a hat, she did her best to cover you and keep you protected. Like a blouse, she may have helped you look good if needed and did what she could to spruce you up. Like a shoe, she kept you grounded and humble with her endless well of wisdom and unfiltered, but well-intentioned honesty. Above all, Mother Bertha cloaked herself in gratitude to God and encouraged others to do the same.  Mother Bertha Lee Holden was predeceased by her parents, Bertha and Charlie Stokes; three sisters, Bernice Salters, Elizabeth Bert, and Effie Dunlap; four brothers, David Stokes, Robert Stokes, Vernell Stokes, and Charlie Stokes; one brother-in-law, Walter Bert, Sr.; one daughter, Stephanie Holden; one granddaughter, Dana Holden; two sons-in-law, Elder Rickey T. Harris and Pastor Kevin D. Ginyard, Sr.   Remaining here on Earth to cherish her legacy are two brothers, Wardell Stokes (Beverly) of Alamogordo, NM, and Vernon Stokes of West Haven; one brother-in-law, Lionel Dunlap of West Haven, CT; two sons, Judge William Holden (Marilyn) of Bridgeport, CT, and Clarence Holden (Chandra) of Katy, TX;  three daughters, Patricia Ginyard of Bridgeport, CT, Linda Holden of Charlotte, NC, and Phyllis Foster (Carl) of Kissimmee, FL; nine grandchildren, Dr. Sheila Holden of Shreveport, LA, Satonya Streater of Charlotte, NC, Kevin Ginyard, Jr. (Shari) of Powder Springs, GA, Noel Ginyard Carter (Anthony) of Hamden, CT, Ashlei Stewart of West Haven, CT, Breanna Holden of New Haven, CT, Taylor Harris of Kissimmee, FL, Constance Holden of Bridgeport, CT, and Courtney Holden of Springfield, MA; nine great-grandchildren, and an adoring host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. A celebration of Mother Bertha’s life will take place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 11:00 am with a visitation from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at Trinity Temple Church God in Christ, 285 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511. Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, 769 Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, CT  06519. To leave a message of comfort for the family and view the full obituary, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com The post Bertha L. Holden, 93 appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less